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Latest NewsWeek Beginning 30 August 1997
6 September 1997 Walter Smith flew to Paris last night to watch UEFA Cip opponents Strasbourg take on Paris St Germain. Before leaving he admitted that the first leg in France will probably come too soon for Seb Rozental and Stuart McCall. He said, "I'm delighted with Stuart's progress and he's just looking to get a number of games in now. Sebastian will have to go the way Stuart has in the past few weeks, putting a lot of work in, but he is another who's desperately keen to get back into action for the top team." Smith is praying that the players who will be on international duty this week return to the club fit and healthy next week. He said, "I just hope that the players come back free of injury because we have so many away over the next week or so that it's a worry. It's getting more and more awkward for all clubs and that's the downside of taking on players who are from other countries. For example Seden will be playing their third international since July but as long as everyone returns in the same condition as they left then I'll be happy." Jim Leighton has kept his place in the Scotland line-up ahead of Rangers 'keeper Andy Goram. Craig Brown said, "I've spoken to both players and so has our goalkeeping coach Alan Hodgkinson. They both looked very good in training but I'm being loyal to Jim. He's played in the last four games and only lost two goals both of which were in the one game against Sweden. Andy's been very professional about it and accepted the situation. He's indicated he's determined and regain his place."
Rangers youngster Barry Ferguson will make his under-21 debut for Scotland tonight against Belarus at McDiarmid Park. The Scots can't qualify for for the European Championship finals next year so coach Tommy Craig is using the under-19's in the hope that they'll be ready to do well in the next European event. Ferguson starred for the under-19's in the Toulon tournament this summer.
Stuart McCall will continue his comeback tomorrow as part of an £8 million squad to face Morton in a testimonial for Cappielow goalkeeper David Wylie. McCall is likely to play his second 90 minutes in a week as he bids to recover from a knee injury which has kept him out for 10 months. Rino Gattuso will also play if he shakes off a slight injury picked up in the Old Firm reserve encounter. Stephen Wright also seems set to be involved.
Rangers received a UEFA Cup boost when it was announced that Seb Rozental may be fit to face Strasbourg on 16 September. He said, "I will be very near to full fitness for the first leg against Strasbourg, but I don't know if I will be quite ready for such a big match. But I won't play if I am not 100 per cent fit because it is not fair to the team, the club's supporters or, most importantly, Walter Smith. The UEFA Cup is a very important competition, and it would be nice to get my first taste of European football. All I want now is to help Rangers win some trophies this season." The club are also hoping for some good news when Lorenzo Amoruso returns to Ibrox today after visiting a specialist in London. He said, "I don't know when I will resume, although I will certainly miss both games against Strasbourg. I've been out for a lot longer than I anticipated and that has been very disappointing. When you change team and move to a new country it's really important to play as often as you can with your new team-mates." Amoruso should certainly return in time for the re-scheduled Old Firm encounter in October. He said, "before my move to Rangers, I spoke to Paolo Di Canio and he said the Old Firm clash was the most incredible match in the world to play in. At the moment I'm quite upset abouth the whole situation, because I want to do well for my new club. I love my sport wholeheartedly and I can't wait to be back playing again and show everyone what I can do for Glasgow Rangers." Danish central defender Marc Rieper went AWOL from a West Ham trip to a Bournemouth hotel yesterday amid reports that he was heading to Glasgow to join one side of the Old Firm. Ally McCoist, Gordon Durie and Andy Goram are believed to be refusing to play for Scotland this week after the SFA decided the game will go ahead immediately after Princess Diana's funeral. McCoist said, "I will be with the squad and I will train today, tomorrow and on Friday. But, in all conscience, I could not be focused on a football match in such tragic circumstances. I have tried to contact Craig Brown to tell him my decision but I will see him when the squad meets up today."
Celtic general manager Jock Brown added, "the League discussed it with Rangers and ourselves and we all came to the same conclusion, that it was inappropriate to play a match in these circumstances. There was no argument about the decision, and there were no problems." Scottish League secretary Peter Donald said, "we all agreed it would be inappropriate to play the match after the tragic circumstances of the death of Princess Diana. We discussed what our response should be and we agreed it would be out of step with the feelings of the nation to play the game. We'll have to talk to Scottish Television as well to find out if they want to go ahead with a live screening of the match and find a date which suits everyone." The most likely date for the match is Monday 6 October. It is the first available midweek when there are no games planned. Scotland face Latvia just five days later but that should not pose a major problem. Stuart McCall recognises that he faces a battle with Rino Gattuso to regain his midfield berth in the Rangers side. He said, "some might say they see a bit of me in him and that's fair enough because he's a great little player. But I'm just delighted to be back after so long out and I've no intention of giving him my jersey just yet. Rino is really energetic and works really hard. He also has a lot of skill. He has a tremendous future here and people forget he is only 19."
Tony Vidmar opened the scoring for Rangers in the eighth minute. Playing in his preferred position at left back he picked up the ball inside the Rangers half before running past a host of Celtic players on a 60 yard run and slotting home. On the hour mark Celtic drew level. Stephen Wright bundled Mark Anthony with a clumsy challenge in the air and McBride blasted the penalty past Rangers 'keeper Antti Niemi. Celtic had two players sent off. The first was Gerard Lyttle for his second bookable offence after a cynical challenge on Rino Gattuso just before half-time. He was joined by John Convery, again after a reckless challenge on Gattuso. Rangers: Niemi, Wright, Bollan, McCall, Petric, Gattuso, Vidmar, Ferguson, Johansson, Durrant, Albertz. Subs: Nicholson, Graham, McGinty After the match Reserve Team Coach John McGregor said, "this was a game when my players had the chance to do something before a big crowd. But too many of them failed to do so." Rangers are on the verge of signing another two promising Italian youngsters after the arrival of Rino Gattuso. The Ibrox club have had 17 year old Mauro Esposito and 19 year old Luigi Riccio on trial for three weeks. Pescara striker Esposito grabbed a hat-trick in an closed-doors 8-1 victory over Falkirk on Wednesday, while Riccio, from Gattuso's old club Perugia, was impressive at left back. Finnish striker Jonatan Johansson also grabbed a double. Walter Smith admitted he will get rid of his three man defensive set-up as soon as Lorenzo Amoruso is fit. Smith said, "I was thinking of going to four if Lorenzo had been fit because it would have suited the players we had better." The shake-up would see a defensive unit of Porrini at right back, Amoruso and Bjorklund in the centre and Stensaas on the left. Gary Bollan could soon be on his way out of Ibrox. He is expected to tie up a loan deal with one of three English First Division clubs this week. Meanwhile Seb Rozental should be back in action within the next two weeks. Gothenburg defender Teddy Lukic warned Rangers not to rely on Brian Laudrup too much in their forthcoming European ties. He said, "in the second half at Ibrox they played their best football of the tie and so much of that was down to Laudrup coming on. If he'd played in the first leg and been fully fit to take part at home then we would have been facing a very different team. They depend on him a little too much for the creative stuff. It's easier for us to peak in Europe, we only have 26 league games and one cup compaired to 36 and two cups in Scotland which is too much."
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