The Rangers boss has been tipped by the Scottish press as one of the contenders to replace the beleaguered George Burley, who will hold talks with the Scottish Football Association over his future next week.

Smith, who quit as Scotland manager to return to Ibrox in January 2007, is credited with resurrecting the fortunes of the national team in the the wake of the disastrous Berti Vogts era and is seen by some as the man to do so again.

However, he insists his only priority is ensuring the disappointment endured by his players while on international duty does not affect their performances for Rangers in tomorrow's early kick-off at Motherwell.

David Weir, Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Kenny Miller all played a part in the 1-0 defeat to Holland, which consigned Scotland to third place in Group Nine and shattered their hopes of securing a play-off spot.

Smith said: "Like everybody else, I'm disappointed. Everybody feels it.

"Our job when we get the players back again is to try to make sure the disappointment they feel after taking part in the games doesn't carry on into the league games which we all have this weekend.

"There is an obvious disappointment but footballers experience disappointment and they have to get over that.

"Everyone who has been involved has to get over the disappointment of the World Cup exit but that is part and parcel of a footballer's life - they have to get on with it.

"I don't think it will be anything which should hinder them coming back to club level."

New signing Jerome Rothen is set to make his debut in tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash as Rangers attempt to maintain their 100% start to the season.

Rothen was a surprise transfer deadline day capture, signing on loan from Paris Saint Germain, and Smith is keen to see him in action sooner rather than later.

He said: "He's ready to play. He's had his pre-season and has had a number of games as well. He is ready to be involved and the quicker we get him involved the better."

However, Kyle Lafferty - now free of the suspension which kept him out of the opening three matches - faces another couple of weeks on the sidelines after suffering injury while on duty with Northern Ireland.

"Kyle has a strained medial ligament and will be out for maybe another two weeks," confirmed Smith.

"It's been a disappointment for him. We were actually quite pleased he was getting the opportunity to have a couple of games.

"Being injured in the first half of the first one meant that was curtailed so we now lose him for another couple of weeks and it's a long spell since he's played.

"He will have a couple of weeks off and then we will need to get him up and running again."

Despite suffering injury setbacks already this season, Smith is confident his more streamlined squad will be able to cope with the challenges ahead, with Rangers' Champions League campaign getting under way in Stuttgart next week.

He said: "It has taken us a little bit of time to warm-up. We have had a slower start game-wise, where previously we were having to play in qualifying games for European tournaments.

"We've not had that this season and that has meant we haven't had an awful lot of games to start with.

"But we come to that stage of the season where we now go into league games, Champions League and League Cup games, and we start to get a full test of our squad over the coming months.

"As long as we avoid injury and a lot of suspensions, we've got a squad big enough to cope. That's going to be the only problem.

"I would hope to have Maurice Edu back in a couple of weeks and I would hope to have Kyle Lafferty back as well. That only leaves Kirk Broadfoot in an injury situation.

"As long as we maintain that level of injury, I think we should handle it okay."