Ferguson has not played so far this season since having surgery

Barry Ferguson expects to be ready for a return to the Rangers team by early November but expects a battle to regain his place in the first team.

The Scotland midfielder and Rangers captain underwent surgery on an ankle injury in July.

"Hopefully, I will join in with the team next week and play a game for the reserves the following week," he said.

"But the boys are doing excellently, apart from the blip at Love Street, and it's going to be tough to get back in."

Rangers were knocked off the top of the Scottish Premier League by Celtic last weekend after being beaten 1-0 by St Mirren.

But the Glasgow outfit had until then received praise for their play after investing heavily in midfielders following a disappointing Champions League exit.

Kevin Thomson, Pedro and Steven Davis have done a great job, so I know I've a job on my hands to get back in the team Barry Ferguson

Steven Davis was bought from Fulham after last year's loan spell, Pedro Mendez arrived from Portsmouth and Maurice Edu came from Major League Soccer.

Manager Walter Smith said recently that Ferguson would return to the team as soon as he was fully fit, such was his importance to the team.

But Ferguson insisted: "Kevin Thomson, Pedro and Steven Davis have done a great job, so I know I've a job on my hands to get back in the team.

"I am not far away now. That me, I've had two weeks of pre-season under my belt.

"If not the end of October, the first week of November, I should be ready."