SCOTLAND boss Walter Smith reckons Barry Ferguson's return to Rangers is a huge boost for the SPL.

The Light Blues swooped for the supremely talented midfielder just minutes before the transfer window slammed shut last month and former Ibrox gaffer Smith knows Baz's Second Coming will enhance the reputation of Scottish football.

He said: "In Scotland I think we have got to be delighted we are getting a good player - the captain - back playing in the country again.

"The credibility of the league here gets questioned but when you get good players coming back and good players coming in then that is beneficial.

"From our point of view it's good that he's back where he's happiest.

"People have questioned the move but it was what he wanted to do. It is important in any walk of life that you are as happy as you can be in the work that you do.

"And I think it is a nonsense to say he is running away from the English Premiership because that is not the case.

"I think he has played exceptionally well down there and every manager that I have spoken to in the Premiership rates him very highly.

"Rangers and Celtic are as big as the majority of clubs in England and in many ways there will be more pressure on him playing for Rangers than for Blackburn.

"There is pressure on players at Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea to win games but it is the same level of competitiveness at Rangers and Celtic - and greater at times, as anyone who has played for these clubs will tell you."

Barry, and Steven Thompson, will join Smith at Manchester Utd's Carrington training ground early next week for a Scotland squad get-together, but you can watch an exclusive interview with Baz on Rangers World now.

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