Interest in Keane saw the media flock to Monday's late-night media conference

By Brian McLauchlin

Walter Smith has applauded Celtic for signing Robbie Keane from Tottenham and expressed frustration at not being able to add to his own Rangers squad.

Smith admits that he thought the days of "box-office signings" had long gone in the Scottish Premier League.

"Celtic have to be congratulated in making the changes there," he said.

"I think they have brought in some good players. Bringing in a player like Robbie Keane has raised the profile of Scottish football once again."

Striker Keane has arrived at title rivals Celtic on loan after finding himself left on the Spurs bench under Harry Redknapp.

It's a little bit of frustration there that maybe we are still leaving ourselves a little bit open to suspension and injury by not being able to add to our group Rangers manager Walter Smith

It was a headline-grabbing signing that brought into sharp focus the differing financial positions of the two Glasgow clubs.

The Rangers manager was unable to add to his squad, the only significant piece of business being the sale of influential midfielder Pedro Mendes to Sporting Lisbon.

But Smith insisted he is not envious of opposing manager Tony Mowbray, who oversaw the signing of eight players while 10 made an exit as he reshaped his Celtic squad during the January transfer window.

The Rangers manager does concede that, by not adding to his squad, they could be put under pressure for the title run-in despite holding a 10-point lead over a Celtic side who play their game in hand against Kilmarnock on Tuesday.

Smith thought that the challenge for his players is now evident and he has asked them to remain focused on their jobs and maintain the consistency that has taken them to the top of the table.

Smith (right) was unable to add to his squad during January

"It's a little bit of frustration there that maybe we are still leaving ourselves a little bit open to suspension and injury by not being able to add to our group, but the boys here have been fantastic," he said.

There was good news for Rangers fans when Smith said that Kris Boyd along with DaMarcus Beasley, Kenny Miller and Maurice Edu could be set to return to action.

"They will all be fit within the next 10 days or so," he said. "We were told that Kris Boyd's injury was a four to six week recovery, but it does look like he will be back sooner than that."

One bonus for Smith was that he had been able to retain the services of striker Boyd, defender Madjid Bougherra and goalkeeper Allan McGregor despite reports of interest from other clubs.

Bougherra will miss Wednesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against St Johnstone at Hampden, having been given a few days off the recover from Algeria's progress to the semi-finals of the Africa Nations Cup.

He will return to Rangers' Murray Park training ground on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Scottish Cup quarter-final away to St Mirren.

Smith was also pleased to report that Kenny Miller could feature against St Johnstone and that there were no long-term concerns over the striker's hamstring injury.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to Keane's threat to Rangers

Beasley's return will be welcomed after Rangers failed to find a wide player as replacement for Jerome Rothen, whose disappointing loan move from Paris St Germain came to an end.

Rangers also allowed two fringe players to leave Ibrox, 22-year-old striker Steven Lennon joining Lincoln on loan for the rest of the season and 21-year-old midfielder Paul Emslie moving to Peterhead until May.

Striker Rory Loy had last week been farmed out to St Mirren and midfielder Andrew Shinnie to Dundee.

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