Walter Smith issued a warning yesterday that Barry Ferguson will need to be handled with care by George Burley and Scotland, on the day that Burley spoke enthusiastically about the return of the Rangers captain to his squad for next week’s friendly against Argentina at Hampden.

Ferguson, who has just returned from five months out with an ankle injury, is being treated cautiously by Smith, the Ibrox manager, who is adamant that the 29-year-old midfield player is not 100 per cent ready for the full rigours of 90 minutes on the pitch.

Ferguson has yet to start a game for Rangers since returning to Smith’s squad two weeks ago and, even with Kevin Thomson’s enforced absence through injury, the Rangers manager is mulling over how much time Ferguson should be given against Motherwell at Fir Park tonight.

Burley enthused about Ferguson’s return to his squad yesterday, claiming that he was “very keen” to play against Argentina, but Smith sounded a decidedly different note. “I think George is just wanting Barry to go along to the Scotland game — but whether he’ll play is another matter,” Smith said. “I don’t think Barry is fit enough to play a full game — he’s still got a way to go. For example, if he starts for us tomorrow against Motherwell, I’m not expecting him to last the full 90 minutes.

“Barry is ready to start a game for us, but whether he’s ready to start against Argentina is another thing. It’s up to George, but it’s natural that if someone has been out for five months, they can’t just come back and play a full 90 minutes and another 90 minutes and another 90 minutes. It doesn’t happen like that.

“It’s just a matter of Barry continuing his recovery. He wasn’t really meant to come back until the end of November anyway.”

Over at Hampden, however, Burley could scarcely conceal his pleasure at having Ferguson back in his plans. The Scotland manager, while acknowledging the midfield player’s recovery from injury, certainly sounded as if he wanted to play him against Argentina. “It’s great to have Barry back in the squad,” Burley said. “I’ve spoken to him and he’s very keen to play — he’s very enthusiastic. Barry’s got a lot of passion about him when it comes to playing for Scotland.

“OK, he’s still not 100 per cent fit, but Rangers still have two games before we face Argentina, so we’ll look at the situation carefully.”

Burley, meanwhile, took the opportunity yesterday to dismiss notions that Kris Boyd’s self-imposed exile from international football was harming Scotland’s prospects or causing Burley himself undue pressure.

“[I feel] no pressure at all,” he said. “I only want committed players — end of story. If everybody is fully committed and wants to play, no matter what, for Scotland, then great. The fans want that, I want that as a manager, I was that as a player.”

Meanwhile, Gordon Strachan offered his support to Burley, who will come under inevitable scrutiny over how he uses all the Old Firm players in the Argentina game. Celtic have six players included in Burley’s squad.

Asked if the Scotland manager should “go easy” on his players next week, Strachan said: “Politically, I don’t think he can. George is under pressure as well, though he really shouldn’t be. There should be no pressure on George in this game, when you look at who we are playing.

“It is a time to leave the team alone and let them enjoy this occasion. Six of my guys participated in the last Scotland game. To get six players in the same international side is some going. I’m proud that we have so many Celtic players in the Scotland squad.”

As well as Ferguson, Burley has recalled Alan Hutton, the Tottenham Hotspur full back, and has also handed Ross McCormack, of Cardiff City, a call-up.