GLASGOW, July 10, 2008 (AFP) - Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson was ruled out for three months on Thursday with an ankle injury.

Ferguson suffered the injury earlier this week and will be sidelined for the start of the Scottish Premier League campaign, as well as the club's crucial Champions League qualifiers and Scotland's opening World Cup qualifiers.

The 30-year-old had been bothered by an ankle problem last season but was told to rest rather than undergo surgery.

Now he will miss Rangers' pre-season tour to Holland and Germany for further tests.