McGregor fit for Old Firm showdown

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GLASGOW, Feb 26, 2010 (AFP) - Rangers boss Walter Smith has revealed that goalkeeper Allan McGregor will be fit to face Celtic in Sunday's pivotal Old Firm derby clash.

Smith also confirmed that the Ibrox keeper would not be fined or disciplined after he was involved in an incident in Glasgow in the early hours of Sunday morning.

McGregor suffered a black eye and facial injuries after the city-centre attack but has trained this week and is set to start against Tony Mowbray's side.

"He is fit and available for selection," said Smith. "We just have to get on with it and we will see how he is, that's as far as I want to go at this stage.

"There will be no disciplinary action taken by the club."

While some managers, including Tottenham Hotspurs manager Harry Redknapp, have enforced curfews on their players, Smith insists he won't adopt similar measures.

McGregor is just the latest high-profile Old Firm star to have been attacked in recent months and the Rangers manager hopes he learns his lesson.

He said: "It's not just happened to Allan McGregor, it has happened to a number of players in recent seasons. They are maybe going out to places they should know better than to go. Hopefully that can serve as a lesson to him. It is up to the players to use their common sense."

Smith wouldn't comment on recent reports that Celtic have leaked news that they made a complaint to the Scottish Football Association over the standard of refereeing towards their side this season.

"I don't really want to get involved," he said. "Every one of us comes under scrutiny when an Old Firm game comes around. I don't really have anything else to say on the matter."

Dougie McDonald will be in charge of Sunday's potentially explosive clash and Smith hopes it will be his players and not the match officials making the headlines at Ibrox.

His side will go 10 points clear - with a game in hand - if they can beat their nearest rivals for the second time at home this season.

But the experienced manager insists nothing will be decided no matter the outcome of the eagerly-anticipated clash.

He said: "It's a must-win game for Rangers, never mind Celtic. We have got to go into it looking to win it. There is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season. It would show a disregard to the other teams in the league to start making assumptions about the championship. But in terms of the Old Firm encounter we just want to win the match."

If he does emerge victorious, it will be Smith's 26th Old Firm victory during his two spells as Rangers boss. That would see him equal the record of legendary Celtic boss Jock Stein and Ibrox great Scott Symon.

"It would be nice to win," said Smith. "That's always the first aspect of it. To equal the record of Mr Stein and Mr Symon would be terrific. But as I said earlier in the week, It would bring me equal in terms of Old Firm games but that would be all."

One man standing in his way is Robbie Keane, with the on-loan Celtic forward set to play on Sunday.

Smith believes his high-profile arrival from Spurs is a huge boost to the Scottish game but hopes he has a miserable Old Firm debut.

He added: "We have no special plans for him. As always we have a respect for all the players that play for Celtic. Robbie Keane has brought back a focus to Scottish football but I just hope he isn't successful on Sunday!"