MAYBE it is as well that Rangers go into the last game of a long
season without needing any points, other than as fillip to take away for
the hols. They have now reached the stage where the players may have to
book in advance if they want places in the treatment room.
Their manager, Walter Smith, said yesterday that, of the 51 on the
playing staff, 31 were out of action with various injuries which, even
utilising flawed arithmetic powers, means he has only six players above
what is required for duty in the premier-division game with Partick
Thistle.
As a fair number of them, if not all, do not take much time to shave
in the morning, it means those who can stand up straight will be asked
to finish the season in style. Fortunately, he is able to name an eleven
which contains only one of the younger brigade, although all the
substitutes will be from the youth squad.
The odd one out at the start will be full back Neil Caldwell, a
Rangers Boys' Club recruit, but he is in the unique position of knowing
in advance that he is making his one and only appearance for the first
team. The 19-year-old has been at Ibrox for almost three years. He will
not forget the last day of the '94-95 season, whoever else does.
Twenty-year-old Neil Inglis, will be the substitute goalie, and will
also be allowed to leave the club. But the two other replacements will
be chosen from a trio of younger lads, 18-year-old Ian Nicholson,
18-year-old Paul McKnight, and 17-year-old Paul McShane.
''The youth team won the Youth Cup so we will want to give one or two
of these lads the chance at some stage to show what they can do,'' said
Smith.
It may have taken until the last day of the season, but that makes it
no less an event to be able to announce an Ibrox side (or any other, for
that matter) before the team sheets appear on the day of the game. The
numbers may vary, but the line-up is: Maxwell, Caldwell, McLaren, Moore,
Cleland, Durie, Steven, Durrant, Mikhailichenko, Hateley, and Laudrup.
''We have had to overcome injuries all season,'' said the manager,
''but I think you could say it is now chaotic.''
Smith is not inclined to get involved in the series of Gazza stories
now taking on soap opera status, leaving the matter to rest where it was
when he last spoke -- that the player, his representatives, and Rangers
will get together again when the time comes for more talking to be done.
Partick Thistle will make the short trip across the city in relaxed
mood after having secured their premier future for another season last
week.
Their manager, John Lambie, shows that he already has an eye to next
term by leaving out Steve Pittman and Derek McWilliams, both in line for
suspension if they suffer another booking. ''I don't want to be starting
next season the same way as we had to last year,'' said the manager, who
also decided to drop, and free, another player who could have picked up
a booking and early suspension.
Lambie and the inimitable, but trouble-prone Chic Charnley will part
company again -- on good terms, according to the Thistle chief.
Nothing much will change, whatever the result at Ibrox, but the
Rangers fans will at least be able to indulge in their familiar
celebration ditties again as the League trophy is presented after the
game by Lord Fraser.
There will be no lack of good humour at Rugby Park, either, where
Kilmarnock fans will be delighted to mark the end of a fine season in
which their new manager and new stadium have proved a good match. They
will have a determined Hibs to take on, of course, as the Easter Road
team still like the idea of finishing third in the table, although their
UEFA Cup hopes have disappeared.
Hibs welome back Darren Jackson after suspension but Gordon Hunter
begins his enforced absence, while four players are due fitness tests --
Keith Wright, Mickey Weir, Kevin Harper, and Michael O'Neill.
Two of the Easter Road men have signed new two-year contracts, Gareth
Evans and Jim Leighton. The keeper thus completes a remarkable return to
the forefront, having re-established himself as a Scottish
intenationalist.
* RANGERS continuing injury problems mean that the Old Firm Premier
Reserve League match today against Celtic has been postponed.
After Celtic last night agreed, the Scottish league gave the go-ahead
for the game to be held over until Monday, the final day of the reserve
league season.
The game will be at Cliftonhill, Coatbridge, with a 1.0 kick-off.
Meanwhile, Celtic yesterday were presented with the Youth League
championship trophy before a 1-1 draw with Rangers.
ST MIRREN yesterday handed five players free transfers, including
David Byrne, a recent signing from Partick Thistle.
The others are Jim Gardner and Kenny Gillies, who have both played
regularly in the first team, Scott Harvie and Martin Hick.
And Saints may lose another five first team men, because they are out
of contract. Captain Norrie McWhirter, under-21 cap Jamie Fullarton,
Barry McLaughlin, Alex Bone and goalkeeper Alan Combe have all been
retained, but manager Jimmy Bone admitted: ''I don't have the finance to
offer them a re-signing fee.''
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