Rangers are understood to be trying to bring Sunderland striker Healy on loan for the rest of the season as they bid to atone for the loss of top goalscorer Kenny Miller to Turkish champions Bursaspor. However, several English clubs are also believed to be interested in taking Northern Ireland's record goalscorer and Rangers would have to act before Monday night's transfer deadline, unlike teams south of the border. The 31-year-old has not played for Sunderland this season and scored two goals in eight appearances on loan at Championship club Doncaster. Healy, who has 35 international goals to his name, has never started a league game for the Wearside club and was loaned to Ipswich last season, where he netted one goal in 12 appearances. No outcome to their pursuit of Healy is expected before tomorrow when Rangers face Motherwell at Hampden as they seek to retain their Co-operative Insurance Cup trophy. Smith has won the competition five times as Rangers manager and has no intention of taking the tournament lightly despite facing an already congested fixture list. "We've got a decent record in the League Cup over the last few seasons and obviously we would like to keep that going," he said. "It's always a big game, it's always nice going to Hampden, it gives a lift to everyone. "Although we've had another league game postponed, I think it adds to the semi-finals to have them at the weekend too." Smith is approaching his last few months as Rangers manager and he is naturally eager to go out on a high. "If anything it increases your determination to do well but I have always been determined to do well," the 62-year-old said. "The League Cup games have always meant a great deal. When you start out at a club like Rangers, you have got to win them to stay in a job. "People ask if you take the competition seriously, you only have to look at our record in recent years to see we want to do extremely well, and we want to do well on Sunday."
