The lengthy break Rangers’ players enjoyed during the summer could, in the long run, prove crucial to their pursuit of a third successive SPL title.

At the moment, though, the time off they had as a result of qualifying for the Champions League group stages is causing them problems. Several members of Walter Smith’s side under-performed in a match against St Johnstone at Ibrox which they were fortunate to win.

Only a late goal from Kenny Miller, whose future remains uncertain as the close of the transfer window draws near, secured a narrow 2-1 victory.

The manager, who gave new signing Nikica Jelavic his debut despite the Croatian’s lack of fitness, knows his side were lucky to collect all three points.

Smith feels his side must sharpen up to avoid losing ground on Old Firm rivals Celtic who lead by a goal difference of two at the top of the table.

“We didn’t start the St John-stone game well at all,” he said. “We were poor for the first half hour of the match. In fact, it took us until they took the lead to get started. That has been typical of us in our opening three games in the league. We have to make sure we step things up a bit and take games to teams a bit more, especially in the early part of the match.

“Sometimes it takes a while for players to get up to a good level. All our players had probably the longest close season they have had for many years and getting back into competitive action again might take time.

“But, no doubt about it, we need to give ourselves a little bit of a kick-start prior to the kick-off with regard to our mental approach.”

There could be no questioning the alertness of Miller late on against St Johnstone – the Scotland striker slotted home his fifth goal in three games to secure a narrow triumph.

On a day when all eyes were on Jelavic, who completed his £4million transfer from Rapid Vienna last Friday, it was Miller who once again stole the show.

Holding on to the 30-year-old will be important to his club if they are to make an impact both in Europe and domestic-ally in the coming months.

Smith is not alone in hoping that no club – and Newcastle United are reported to be keen to take the player back to the Barclays Premier League – table a bid.

He added: “We can be approached, but there is no necessity on us to sell. Hope-fully we will get no enquiries and we’ll settle down after that.

“Last season Kenny got 18 league goals. Prior to that, people questioned his finishing, but that is due to his unselfish nature. We have urged him to put himself into scoring positions more and he has managed to do that.

“He seems to be enjoying life at the moment and I am really delighted because we are needing that bit of spark, something to lift us out of the lackadaisical spell we are having at the moment.”

In his brief spell on the park against St Johnstone, Jelavic showed why Rangers have parted with more money for him than any other player in the last eight years.

The 24-year-old looked lightning fast, powerful and intelligent, and came close to setting up Steven Naismith for a goal shortly after arriving on the field to a huge ovation.

Smith said: “We will have to wait and see what pluses these new players bring to the side. The international break is coming at a bad time for us. We want to keep playing and get ourselves into the groove.”

Vladimir Weiss, who picked up the man-of-the-match award, will certainly be disappointed there is no club game to take part in this weekend.

With Kyle Lafferty, who was ordered off in the 3-0 win over Hibs the previous weekend, ruled out, Weiss made his first start on the wing.

The 20-year-old, on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season, had impressed after coming on as a second- half substitute at Easter Road.

The Slovakian international looked a decent acquisition once again and, for the second week running, had a hand in one of his side’s goals.

His cross into the opposition penalty area on the half hour mark was met by Naismith, who rose well and headed towards goal.

Saints goalkeeper Graeme Smith palmed the ball to the feet of Sasa Papac, who netted the equaliser with a little help from Kevin Rutkiewicz.

Only some clinical finishing from Miller, after a fine through ball from Lee McCulloch, ensured the Scottish cham-pions avoided dropping two valuable points.

But unless Rangers improve quickly, however, they may not be so fortunate when the action resumes.

TIMES TALKER: What do Gers need to bring in?

A WINGER says MATTHEW LINDSAY

It must have pleased Walter Smith to see new signing Vladimir Weiss do so well for Rangers against St Johnstone.

Smith’s side have lacked an out-and-out winger since he returned to Ibrox, but in Weiss he certainly has one now.

Possibly as a result of the Manchester City loan player’s success, Smith may look to bring in another wide player before the window closes tomorrow. Having lost DaMarcus Beasley, Nacho Novo and Stevie Smith in the summer, he certainly needs to bolster that department.

Steven Naismith has played well on the flank, Steven Davis can be deployed on the right if need be and Kyle Lafferty is also an option in that area.

However, another specialist wide man would be invaluable both in Europe and domestically.

New striker Nikica Jelavic looks a decent acquisition, but he needs team-mates to supply him with chances from out wide.

MIDFIELDER says DARRELL KING

In an ideal world, Walter Smith would like to have another four players in his ranks for the demands of a domestic and Champions League campaign.

But he knows he has to prioritise with the little resource he has.

If anything can be done signing-wise before the window shuts at midnight tomorrow, it has to be a central midfielder.

Rangers, basically, have three players for that key area – Steven Davis, Mo Edu and Lee McCulloch.

Davis needs support and cannot be expected to hit the standards of last term in every game, Edu has yet to prove he can get through a season without an injury lay-off and McCulloch is also a year older and remains vulnerable to injuries and suspensions.

A powerful, combative midfielder should be top of Smith’s wish-ist if he only gets one choice. If he gets the luxury of two, it’s a centre-half as well.