Getty
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
| RANGERS  McGregor Whittaker, Goian, Bocanegra, Papac McCulloch Naismith, Davis, Edu, Lafferty Jelavic | CELTIC  Forster Matthews, K Wilson, Mulgrew, El Kaddouri Brown, Kayal, Ki, Ledley, Forrest Hooper |
Rangers boss Ally McCoist will be able to welcome back defender Sasa Papac, while Lee McCulloch should be fit enough to start the first Old Firm game of the season. Crucially for the Ibrox side is the availability of striker Nikica Jelavic, who missed last week’s victory over Dundee United.
The Scottish champions will also have American international Alejandro Bedoya in the squad after he also missed last week’s win with a calf strain, while fellow summer new boy Matt McKay will be hoping to add to the seven minutes he got in Saturday’s game at Tannadice.
Celtic will hope to welcome back captain Scott Brown after the midfielder was forced to miss the Parkhead club’s Europa League defeat to Atletico Madrid with an ankle knock, while striker Anthony Stokes also missed out with a thigh strain. Daniel Majstorovic returns for the Hoops after sitting out the European tie through suspension.
Neil Lennon should hand first Old Firm starts to full backs Adam Matthews and deadline day signing Badr El Kaddouri after the Moroccan had signed on-loan from Dynamo Kiev to replace long-term injury victim Emilio Izaguirre.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- This will be Rangers manager Ally McCoist’s first Old Firm meeting in charge of the Ibrox side, while his opposite number has been in charge eight times since March last year.
- Last season’s top scorer in the Scottish Premier League was Rangers' Kenny Miller with 21 goals, even though he left the club during the January transfer window.
- An extra-time strike by Nikica Jelavic helped McCoist secure his first title, the League Cup, during an Old Firm final at Hampden in March.
- The Ibrox side had keeper Allan McGregor to thank during the goalless draw between the sides in April when the Scotland international saved a Georgios Samaras penalty to claim a precious point.
- Celtic claimed victory twice in the four league games between the sides, with Samaras (pictured right) being the hero after bagging a double during the New Year Old Firm game at Ibrox.
- Both sides met an incredible seven times last season, in the SPL, League Cup and Scottish Cup, with Celtic winning three times, Rangers twice and two games being drawn.
- The Hoops last victory over their fiercest rivals came during the infamous Scottish Cup fifth round replay when both Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra were sent off, while Lennon and McCoist were involved in a full-time brawl.
- That victory played a crucial part in the Parkhead side securing their first title under Lennon as they went on to defeat fellow Scottish Premier League side Motherwell in the final.
| PLAYERS TO WATCH |
Rangers: Nikica Jelavic
The Croatian striker has been the focal point for the Ibrox side going forward after the departure of Kenny Miller to Bursaspor during the January transfer window. He has already claimed 18 goals in only 28 games after injury had hampered the former Rapid Vienna frontman last season.
Celtic: Beram Kayal
The 23-year-old midfielder has been a sensation since arriving at Parkhead from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa at the start of last season, becoming an influential performer for Neil Lennon’s side.
| PREDICTION |
Rangers will hope to put the off-field issues of this week behind them and with key players coming back to fitness and Celtic having to travel back from their Europa League game in Madrid that should give the home side the advantage, but Old Firm games are never that simple.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
