Scottish Premier League - Team news: Shamed duo back in contention

Eurosport - Sat, 18 Apr 12:28:00 2009

Brief team news ahead of the weekend's SPL action, with shamed Rangers duo Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor in contention for a recall.

FOOTBALL Rangers Barry Ferguson - 0

Celtic (1) v Aberdeen (4)

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus and midfielder Scott Brown are doubtful. Neither trained at Lennoxtown on Friday as they nursed ankle knocks but striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink took part in the session and looks to have shrugged off a hamstring injury. Barry Robson, Georgios Samaras, Darren O'Dea and Ben Hutchinson are still out.

Aberdeen will be without first-choice strike partnership Lee Miller and Darren Mackie. Miller begins a two-match ban after being booked against Motherwell earlier this month, while a recurrence of a hamstring problem has ruled out Mackie.

Zander Diamond is fit to play after recovering from an ankle injury, while Andrew Considine and Mark Kerr both return from suspension.

Dundee Utd (5) v Kilmarnock (8)

Dundee United welcome back Warren Feeney and Morgaro Gomis. Northern Ireland striker Feeney missed last weekend's win at Hamilton with a virus, while Gomis was suffering from a bruised foot.

Long-term injured pair Jon Daly (knee) and Scott Robertson (groin) remain on the sidelines.

Kilmarnock will be without playmaker Manuel Pascali, with the midfielder beginning a two-match ban after picking up his 13th booking of the season two weeks ago.

James Fowler (foot) is back in training but the game comes to soon for the defender.Winger Willie Gibson is back in contention after his own foot problem.

Falkirk (12) v Hearts (3)

Falkirk manager John Hughes faces a shortage of attacking options. Michael Higdon his only fully fit striker, with Steve Lovell ruled out with a knee injury and Mark Stewart and Carl Finnigan struggling to shake off knocks. Veteran winger Neil McCann is also a doubt.

Hearts are likely to have an unchanged squad. Gary Glen (ankle) and Jason Thomson (hamstring) are expected to miss out, while Laryea Kingston is not ready to return from his hamstring injury.

Mike Tullberg is pushing for an appearance but Calum Elliot is likely to continue up front.

Inverness CT (11) v Hamilton (9)

Inverness midfielder Richie Foran and centre-back Pavels Mihadjuks should be fit to face Hamilton. Foran suffered a neck injury in last weekend's defeat to Aberdeen but has returned to training, while Mihadjuks took a knock to the ribs.

Eric Odhiambo, who was injured in the warm-up at Pittodrie last Saturday, will be out of action for up to three weeks, and Richie Byrne misses out with a back injury.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid could have as many as five first-team regulars unavailable.

David Elebert, Trent McClenahan, Brian Easton, Mark Corcoran and Richard Offiong are all struggling with various knocks. Although all rated doubtful at the moment, Reid is hoping at least one proves his fitness.

Sunday, April 19

Hibernian (6) v Rangers (2)

Hibernian have received a huge boost with the news top scorer Steven Fletcher has been declared fit to play.

The Scotland international injured his groin in Monday night's 1-1 draw at St Mirren but has recovered to take a full part in training. Hibs have no other injury worries.

Ferguson (pictured) and McGregor are both available for selection for Rangers. The pair have served their two-week club bans but are likely to still be lacking in fitness. Sasa Papac and Kenny Miller could both be involved after recovering from ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively.

But Lee McCulloch, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Lafferty, Kirk Broadfoot and Kevin Thomson are still out of action.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. ERZIRICHARDGOUGHBUBBLEBATH! TWOFURRAPOUNDA,­ TWOFURRAPOUNDA!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sun 19 Apr 6:19PM

  2. 20.So the guy's had a drink and gave the v sign,In­­ England the players can get a criminal conviction and­­ nothing happens in their career for club or country.­­ Driving ban's speeding asulting people getting­­ pissed and into fights but what happens to theses­­ player in­­ England.

    Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ­ ­
    So what have Ferguson and McGregor done thats so­­ terriable.....................................
    Think it­ may have something to do with the fact that Rangers­ are hated the world over.....simple really sonny!

    From Marty, on Sun 19 Apr 12:41AM

  3. SMITH has the senile dementia methinks.............poor­ @#$%.

    From Marty, on Sun 19 Apr 12:38AM

  4. HAHAHA.....hope they play.........pair of tramps will­ be pissed....Mon the Hibbes!

    From Marty, on Sat 18 Apr 10:57PM

  5. sam f uck off and take that rodent paul g with you..

    From zzgus f, on Sat 18 Apr 6:00PM

  6. 20 - They havnae spit-roasted a wee burd up in a hotel­ room, that's whit!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sat 18 Apr 3:43PM

  7. well said sam

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sat 18 Apr 2:37PM

  8. So the guy's had a drink and gave the v sign,In­ England the players can get a criminal conviction and­ nothing happens in their career for club or country.­ Driving ban's speeding asulting people getting­ pissed and into fights but what happens to theses­ player in­ England.

    Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ­
    So what have Ferguson and McGregor done thats so­ terriable.....................................

    From sam d, on Sat 18 Apr 1:37PM

  9. Sooner Scotland get rid of the Glasgow bigots the­ better. Celtic supporters want to be Irish and Rangers­ supporters want to be English. Let them play in England­ I say. ER

    From ERNEST, on Sat 18 Apr 1:12PM

  10. Singin....if they lose or draw and the v drinkers­ play....its gonna explode and all the we love wattie­ fans will be on here spouting piss

    From stub1, on Sat 18 Apr 12:49PM

  11. WALTER SMITH - this is the rock that you shall perish­ upon. GINGE HAS WARNED YOU!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sat 18 Apr 12:25PM

  12. POINT 9 - thats one hulluva amount of viagra you will­ need then!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sat 18 Apr 12:02PM

  13. CONNOR95 - does your pc have a spellchecker?

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sat 18 Apr 12:01PM

  14. i agree with point 8 all six should have been band but­ if they had there wouldnt have been a team left to face­ iceland and thats why the capton took the fall...

    From connor.95, on Sat 18 Apr 11:16AM

  15. He he. Celebrity immunity. They did the deeds and then­ they played part of the act and now they are back like­ nothing happened.

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 18 Apr 8:38AM

  16. Welcome back boys

    From Charles, on Sat 18 Apr 7:55AM

  17. Ferguson's a wee boy that refuses to take­ responsability for anything. And why should he when­ the SFA and Rangers dont have the back bone to stick by­ they're guns?!! If that was any other player­ outside the old firm they would have been dead burried­ and forgotten about by now.

    From Neil M, on Sat 18 Apr 6:01AM

  18. i agree pt 1 hello what planet are you on .paulg ­ please try to relise it is not about the drinking i­ agree all the people in the drinking spree should be­ disaplined mate but the 2 rangers players involved­ continued to abuse all things scottish that is why they­ need to be banned but i do agree with you mate you do­ not need them you have a descent team but you need a­ manager with a back bone and a lot of money after the­ dead wood has gone

    From paul, on Sat 18 Apr 12:30AM

  19. Looks like they 2 took the blame for all of them and­ said nowt. Thats ba.lls

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sat 18 Apr 12:10AM

  20. Whats with the shamed duo, there was 6 people there,­ just the other 4 dont have the ba.lls to admit it.­ Shame on them. AHEM MR BROWN

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Sat 18 Apr 12:09AM
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