Scottish Premier League - Team news: 'Well unchanged

Eurosport - Fri, 19 Sep 17:46:00 2008

Team news ahead of the weekend's SPL matches, with Motherwell facing Rangers with an unchanged line-up after their 1-0 UEFA Cup defeat at Nancy.

FOOTBALL Motherwell - 0

Saturday, September 20

Aberdeen (8) v Dundee Utd (12)

Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood is expected to make several changes after the loss to Hamilton. Zander Diamond looks set to return to the centre of defence after successfully completing 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek. The Dons have a clean bill of health except for Jamie Smith, who is still nursing a calf strain.

United are without strikers Warren Feeney (ankle) and Roy O'Donovan (hamstring). There is also a doubt over midfielder Willo Flood (hamstring), who faces a late fitness test. Jon Daly is likely to start alongside Francisco Sandaza, while youngster Ryan McCord will come into the squad.

Last season: Aberdeen 2 Dundee Utd 1, Dundee Utd 3 Aberdeen 0, Aberdeen 2 Dundee Utd 0, Dundee Utd 1 Aberdeen 0

Last five league matches: Aberdeen L W D W L; Dundee Utd L D D L L

Top scorers: Darren Mackie, Gary McDonald, Derek Young, Charlie Mulgrew and Christopher Maguire (Aberdeen) 1; Jon Daly (Dundee Utd) 3

Referee: C Murray (Scotland).

Hamilton (4) v Hibernian (7)

Hamilton manager Billy Reid has no fresh injury worries. Mark McLaughlin remains on the sidelines with a knee injury sustained against Kilmarnock last month, however the defender is progressing well and Reid has pencilled in the October 18 match against St Mirren for his first-team comeback.

Hibs are without Filipe Morais (thigh), Alan O'Brien (knee) and Kevin McCann (knee), while Sol Bamba is suspended. Steven Thicot is doubtful with a leg problem, while Derek Riordan is battling to make the starting line-up as he nears full fitness after a groin injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Hamilton W W L L W; Hibernian L W D L W

Top scorers: Anthony Stevenson & David Graham (Hamilton) 2; Colin Nish (Hibernian) 3

Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).

Hearts (5) v Inverness (6)

Hearts winger Andy Driver has failed to recover from an ankle knock, midfielder David Obua remains sidelined with a muscle injury while Deividas Cesnauskis is out with a thigh problem. Long-term absentees Robbie Neilson, Mirsad Beslija and Bruno Aguiar are also out.

Inverness boss Craig Brewster may bring captain Grant Munro back into the heart of defence after seeing his team concede two preventable goals in the defeat to St Mirren. Russell Duncan and David Proctor are back in contention for a place in the squad after making it through a midweek reserve match unscathed.

Last season: Hearts 1 Inverness 0, Inverness 0 Hearts 3, Hearts 2 Inverness 3, Inverness 2 Hearts 1

Last five league matches: Hearts W L W W L; Inverness CT W L D W L

Top scorers: Michael Stewart (Hearts) 3; Don Cowie (Inverness CT) 2

Referee: W Collum (Scotland).

St Mirren (9) v Falkirk (11)

The Buddies are still without defender David Barron, who has a knee injury, while midfielder Tonet has a foot problem.

Sean Lynch is expected to be included in a Falkirk squad missing Carl Finnigan (virus), Brian Allison (foot), Arnau Riera (knee) and Dean Holden (leg). However, Russell Latapy has shrugged off an ankle knock.

Last season: St Mirren 1 Falkirk 0, Falkirk 4 St Mirren 0, St Mirren 1 Falkirk 5, Falkirk 0 St Mirren 1

Last five league matches: St Mirren L D L L W; Falkirk L L L L W

Top scorers: Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 5; Michael Higdon (Falkirk) 3

Referee: E Norris (Scotland).

Sunday, September 21

Kilmarnock (3) v Celtic (2)

Killie have no new injury concerns. Striker Allan Russell is out for two to three weeks with a knee problem, while defender Ryan O'Leary (shoulder) remains a long-term absentee.

Celtic picked up a few knocks in their Champions League Group E match against Aalborg but nothing serious enough to worry Gordon Strachan. However, the Parkhead boss is likely to make changes.

Last season: Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 0, Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 2, Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 0

Last five league matches: Kilmarnock W D W W L; Celtic W D W L W

Top scorers: Frazer Wright (Kilmarnock) 2; Georgios Samaras (Celtic) 5

Referee: M McCurry (Scotland).

Rangers (1) v Motherwell (10)

Rangers defender Sasa Papac is suspended and Steven Whittaker misses out through injury. The clash also comes too soon for Chris Burke, who is on the comeback trail from an ankle injury - but there is better news with Kevin Thomson and Kyle Lafferty returning after Achilles and back injuries respectively.

Well hope to have an unchanged squad. Midfielder Stephen Hughes recovered from a knock to play in the UEFA Cup in Nancy and will be assessed before the match. Brian McLean (knee) remains a long-term absentee while deadline-day signing Maros Klimpl is working his way up to fitness.

Last season: Motherwell 1 Rangers 1, Rangers 1 Motherwell 0, Rangers 3 Motherwell 1, Motherwell 1 Rangers 1

Last five league matches: Rangers W W D W W; Motherwell L L D W L

Top scorers: Kris Boyd (Rangers) 3; David Clarkson and John Sutton (Motherwell) 3

Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2

Referee: E Smith (Scotland).

SportingLife / Eurosport

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  1. MON THE KILLIE, Use half your ability and you will beat they tattie munchin bend over bhoys. BJK

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Fri 19 Sep 9:33PM
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