Rangers go into the third Old Firm game of the season, having brought in three new players during the January transfer window, with El Hadji Diouf, David Healy and Kyle Bartley making their way to Ibrox to sign for the Scottish champions.
Blues' assistant manager Ally McCoist spoke at the club's pre-match media conference about the trio’s arrival, saying: “I think its freshened it up a bit and we’ve been wanting to do that for a while and it certainly adds a bit of freshness, because they are keen and have seen about the place and they obviously want to take part in games, especially the Old Firm game.”
He was asked about the signing of the controversial Diouf, to which he responded: “He did well [against Hearts], he’s not had a lot of games recently and if the game against Hearts is anything to go by he’ll certainly win us a few free kicks in the Old Firm game and I hope that’ll be the case.”
Finally, he was asked about how the Old Firm cup tie will be looked upon by the rest of the teams in the competition, with the former Ibrox striker saying: “This cup tie, it’s not often that Rangers and Celtic draw each other at this early stage in the cup, so with Hearts out and with something to give with the Old Firm, I think that the other clubs will look upon this as an opportunity to perhaps get to a final or to have an extended run, but the pressure for us is still the same, especially against our rivals.”
Hoops' Hopes Are High
Celtic go into the Ibrox fixture with confidence after defeating their Glasgow neighbours at the same venue only one month ago, when a Georgios Samaras double claimed all three points for the Parkhead side.
The Hoops' gaffer Neil Lennon spoke at the club’s pre-match press conference about whether the cup tie is more important than the league fixture last month. Lennon said: “Not really, it’s an Old Firm game regardless of the competition we’re looking to win and we know that it’s very difficult to go there and win. Out of all of the fixtures in Scotland this is probably the most difficult one, to go to Ibrox in that atmosphere and against a good team.”
He was also asked about the possibility of a draw, which would not be favoured by Rangers, due to the Ibrox side having two outstanding fixtures on their Glasgow rivals. Lennon replied: “Yeah, I mean it’s not the ideal time to be playing an Old Firm game with all the games coming up, so we’re going to try and get a positive result, one way or another. And if it’s a draw, then it’s a draw and we’ll just have to deal with that.”
TEAM NEWS
Rangers
Rangers will enter the Old Firm derby without influential midfielder Lee McCulloch who was injured in the Ibrox side’s midweek victory over Hearts.
Winger Vladimir Weiss was also taken off during the game and remains doubtful for the Scottish Cup fifth round tie.
That could mean a return to the starting line-up for Scotland international Steven Naismith, who was rested by Walter Smith, looking forward to the crucial cup tie.
Also back in the Rangers team will be striker Nikica Jelavic who was also missing from the win over third-placed Hearts with a groin injury. The Rangers manager is also set to leave new signings David Healy, El Hadji Diouf and Kyle Bartley on the bench for the Glasgow derby,
Possible starting XI: McGregor; Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Naismith, Davis, Ness, Edu, Lafferty; Jelavic
Celtic
Celtic manager Neil Lennon will be delighted to welcome back central defensive pair Thomas Rogne and Daniel Majstorovic who return from injury after having suffered from calf and hamstring problems, respectively.
The former Hoops skipper is also boosted by the return of both Ki Sung Yueng and Cha Du-Ri who are back in Glasgow after participating in the Asian Cup last month for their native South Korea.
Another pleasing sight for Lennon is the return to training of defender Glenn Loovens and Georgios Samaras, who was the hero for the league leaders in their last visit to the south side of Glasgow during the New Year derby.
Possible starting XI: Forster; Wilson, Majstorovic, Rogne, Izaguirre; Brown, Kayal, Ledley, Commons; Hooper, Stokes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Rangers
Maurice Edu - The American has found his form since coming back into the Rangers side after a lengthy injury and showed his importance when he scored in the Ibrox side’s victory over Motherwell last weekend, which saw the Scottish champions reach the final of the League Cup, were they will meet Celtic.
Celtic
Biram Kayal - The dynamic midfielder has been so good for Neil Lennon’s side that the Celtic gaffer has switched his captain to the right wing in order to accommodate the Israeli in the centre of the pitch for the Parkhead side. As a result he will be key to Celtic securing a path into the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup.
Prediction
Although Old Firm games are near enough impossible to predict, Celtic should definitely be considered as the favourites due to the players that have returned from injury, coupled with their good form that has seen them go undefeated since the middle of November.
Rangers 1-2 Celtic
