WALTER SMITH watched Northern Ireland goal machine David Healy smash Sweden in Belfast last night.

WALTER SMITH watched Northern Ireland goal machine David Healy smash Sweden in Belfast last night.

And the Rangers boss could make a summer move for the 27-year-old striker, who is a lifelong fan of the Ibrox club.

Smith was at Windsor Park with coach Ian Durrant, and was also believed to be scouting a Swede.

He left impressed with Healy's double salvo as the Irish came from a goal down to win 2-1 and go top of Euro 2008 Group F.

The Gers gaffer is on the look-out for two strikers, with huge doubts over the future of Dado Prso and the likes of Filip Sebo and Thomas Buffel.

While Healy has failed to hit the heights at Leeds, where he is rarely used as an out-and-out striker by Dennis Wise, his international record is excellent.

Last night's double took his tally for the Irish to a stunning 29 goals in 56 matches. He hit the winner against England two years ago, and blasted a hat-trick against Spain last year in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Belfast.

Healy is currently being tracked by Wigan, Everton, Sheffield Utd and Charlton and has a year to go on his contract at Elland Road.

However, with Leeds rooted to the bottom of the Championship, he could well go for a reduced price if they are relegated. He would jump at the chance to join his boyhood heroes should Rangers come in with a concrete bid.

Smith has also been linked to Croatian striker Bosko Balaban, who has a clause in his contract at Brugge that will allow him to leave for £1.4m this summer.

The 28-year-old joined Aston Villa from Dinamo Zagreb in 2001 in a £6m deal, but failed to make an impression in the Premiership. But his goals for Brugge have alerted a host of European scouts.

His services have been offered to Smith and the player's UK agent, Frank Trimboli, said: "Rangers are a massive club and Bosko would like to come back to the UK to play.

"However, we haven't learned any more and we are waiting to hear back from both clubs."

Smith could be set to reappoint former chief scout Ewan Chester to his backroom team. Chester left when Alex McLeish took over, but could be handed his old talent spotting job back.

Rangers will confirm within the next few days that they will face David Beckham's MLS side LA Galaxy on Wednesday, May 23 in a lucrative end of season friendly, as revealed in SportTimes a month ago.

Smith takes his squad to the States after their final SPL game, at Aberdeen on May 20.