Dane's arrival may not be end of Rangers' spending spree Andersen ready, willing and able

Yesterday, Rangers manager Walter Smith talked of Andersen's scoring prowess and stressed: ``He has a lot of pace and is the type of player who operates in the penalty box. He is always looking to get a goal and, with the injuries we have suffered in recent weeks to Ally McCoist and Gordon Durie, he is the recognised goalscorer we have been missing. I am sure that he will fit into the team quickly - and he does have Brian Laudrup here to help him.''

Andersen is ready to make his first appearance on Sunday, against Hibs at Easter Road, and he insisted: ``I don't see that the style of football here in Scotland will give me any problems. I am fairly confident as a person and I will be able to score goals in the premier division.

``I think, too, that having the first game against Hibs and then having a break the next week because of the Scottish Cup will be good for me. It will leave me time to prepare for the game against Celtic, which I know is so important to the club.

``I spoke to Brian Laudrup before coming here and all I heard from him was positive. He thinks I can score a lot of goals here and so do I.''

Andersen said he had heard rumours that Celtic had also been interested in signing him, but added: ``I heard nothing official about that, though maybe there was a little battle between the two clubs.''

Whether there was any real interest from Celtic or not, the Laudrup factor would always have swayed the player towards Ibrox.

Andersen met some of his new colleagues yesterday and will train with the first-team squad today in preparation for Sunday's clash in Edinburgh.

Meantime, Smith refused to rule out the possibility of another signing before the transfer deadline on March 31. He has been linked with another striker, the German Ulf Kirsten, from German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Again, Old Firm rivals Celtic are also supposed to be interested in the player as the title stakes continue to rise dramatically for the Glasgow sides.

q BARNSLEY will take another look at unsettled Rangers player Neil Murray next week before making a bid for the player.

The English first division side were impressed by the #250,000-rated midfielder when he spent four days with the club last week. And Barnsley coach Malcolm Shotten is confident they can bring the 23-year-old to Oakwell.

He said: ``We like the look of Neil. He has a lot going for him as a footballer. But it is important to see him in a match situation and myself and manager Danny Wilson will take in a game soon.

``Once we get a chance to see Neil again, we will contact Walter Smith and let him know what is happening.''

q DAVID Batty has finally completed his #4million move from Blackburn to Newcastle. And by delaying putting pen to paper until yesterday, the England midfielder has effectively halved his two-match suspension.

When the two clubs agreed terms at the end of last week, it looked like Batty would have to sit out two games for his new club.

But, with Blackburn playing on Wednesday night, the suspension has now been cut to one - the Premiership showdown with Manchester United at St James' Park on Monday night.

``I'll be raring to go after the Manchester United match and I'm just relieved that everything has now been completed,'' said Batty.

Manager Kevin Keegan continued his news blackout this week in the build-up to the match between the Premiership's two top by refusing to hold a formal news conference to announce the signing.

q MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson has been named Carling Manager of the Month after steering his side to four successive victories in February.

United's impressive run, which culminated in their 6-0 thrashing of Bolton last Sunday, helped them cut Newcastle's lead at the top of the Premiership to four points.

The award - Ferguson's first of the season - nets him #750 and a magnum of champagne.