NEW boys dominated the Friday chat yesterday as Celtic paraded their latest signing, #500,000 Morten Wieghorst from Dundee, and Rangers decided it was time to give #350,000 midfield man Derek McInnes, formerly of Morton, his chance in the first team against Partick Thistle.

However, Wieghorst may have to settle for a place on the bench at best against Hibs after the hectic two days he has had since he first heard that Celtic were interested.

The Danish internationalist, who has been the subject of a lot of interest from various clubs, had been hoping for a move this season as he signed month-to-month contracts at Dens Park but the Parkhead move came as a complete surprise. It might also have been a little bit unexpected for him to be told he was wanted as a central defender.

Wieghorst is seen in that role by manager Tommy Burns, who at one time had tried to sign a similar continental style player in Gordan Petric to Parkhead. Petric went to Rangers, who were one of the clubs speculated as keen on Wieghorst. As the Dane joins Celtic, Parkhead defender Barry Smith, who has been there four-and-a-half years, goes to Dens Park, making the total deal worth around #600,000 to Dundee.

``I am just delighted to be going to a big club like Celtic,'' said Wieghorst in impeccable English. ``It is a great opportunity for me, although I know I first have to secure a place in the team and then build from there.

``In Denmark, I knew all about Celtic as a great club, especially the kind of football they played in the sixties and seventies, and people realise they are trying to build a team that will play attack-minded football in that style again. They are one of the clubs known on the Continent for their tradition. Anyway, now I am a Celtic fan.''

The tall internationalist, who has had five caps for Denmark, insisted that he would play anywhere in a Celtic team and added: ``I did play in central defence for Lyngby.''

He likes Scotland, enjoyed his three years at Dens Park, and hopes he can increase his chances of more international recognition by establishing himself with Celtic. ``He will be involved in the squad tomorrow,'' said Burns, ``but he has not had much sleep during the past couple of days and maybe he needs time to settle in.

``We see him as a central defender but he can step into midfield if required. The way the team has been playing it has to be a hell of a good player who gets into the side and Morten has real quality. He is a very good passer of the ball, keeps good possession, and is tactically aware, like most continentals.''

The manager said that he had been kept informed of the position regarding Wieghorst and, recently, Dundee manager Jim Duffy let him know that other clubs had made their interest known. He decided to make his move then.

Duffy said: ``Morten had made it clear he wanted to keep his options open on the possibility of a move to a greater stage by signing monthly contracts since the start of the season. He could have simply signed for another club under freedom of contract and we would have been left to take the chance on the fee being settled by tribunal.

``In fact, we consider we have been stung on the last two occasions we were subject to a fee being settled in that way - when Steve Pittman joined Partick Thistle and John McQuillan went to Perth.

``There were three firm offers for Morten this week and, in these circumstances, we felt we had to negotiate the best deal we could.''

Celtic will have fit-again Phil O'Donnell in contention for a place against Hibs, but Brian McLaughlin is also a challenger for the place in the team vacated by suspended Peter Grant. The other empty peg, left by another suspended man, John Hughes, will go to Malcolm Mackay.

Hibs will be without their suspended midfielder Michael O'Neill, but Mickey Weir is fit again. Striker Keith Wright is confident that his team can end an 11-game run against Celtic without a win, although many of them were drawn.

``One thing is certain, neither team will be looking for a draw this time,'' he said, ``because we can't let Celtic get further ahead of us and they won't want Rangers to go further in front of them.''

Rangers first have to beat Partick Thistle and that is always a dangerous presumption, even if the Ibrox side have a superb record in the league this season. They will be without suspended Paul Gascoigne, which may make life a little more difficult for the headline writers, but into his place comes a player of much promise in McInnes.

The 24-year-old might well have made his first appearance in the top side against Hibs but had to serve a suspension. He has impressed manager Walter Smith in two reserve matches and is keen to stake his claim for a regular role. Alex Cleland is almost certainly out because of a slight hamstring injury.

``Over the seasons, Thistle have had to learn to start fighting against relegation from the start of the season,'' said Smith, ``and it is to their credit that they have stayed in it for the last couple of seasons.

``Their result against Aberdeen shows what they are capable of against the top teams in the league, but, now that we are clear of European commitments, we would like to keep up our good league form and then take advantage of the 10-day break to work on the fitness of players who have been out with injury this season.''

Thistle are without suspended pair Cammy Milne and Steve Pittman, but flu sufferers Gregg Watson and Ian Cameron are fit to return. Goalkeeper Mark Cairns, who did so well in his first top-team game against Aberdeen last week, will have his initial taste of the Ibrox atmosphere.