Rangers' #2.5m Chilean striker Sebastian Rozental, who was expected to return to action with the Ibrox team this month, has suffered yet another setback in his battle against injury.

Rozental, 21, has been missing from the Rangers' first team since being injured against St Johnstone almost exactly a year ago. He damaged cruciate ligaments and was forced to undergo surgery at the California clinic the Glasgow side have used regularly for players suffering from this type of injury.

However, earlier this season, Rozental required further surgery and Rangers are flying in a specialist from Santiago to examine the player again. Last night, from the Chilean capital, I learned that the surgeon who performed the last 'tidying-up' portion of the knee operation will arrive in Glasgow tomorrow.

A source in Santiago explained: ''The doctor who is flying to Glasgow is the man who is in charge of the Chilean World Cup team and Sebastian knows him well. When he returned to Chile, after there had been complications following the operation in the United States, this was the man who treated him.

''Now he has made his arrangements to fly to Scotland because Sebastian has been suffering some pain in the knee during training. It may not be too serious but it is a problem, and Rangers have asked the specialist to see the player.

''It is important for Chile, too, because they have qualified for the World Cup and they would like to have Sebastian in the squad for France - particularly for their opening game against Italy in Bordeaux. The sooner the player is back in action for his club then the sooner he can be considered for the World Cup games. The hope here is that there will be no serious complications.''

Rangers manager Walter Smith has yet to see the Chilean front man play a full game for the club. He made his debut against Motherwell at Fir Park, coming on as a substitute and then, against St Johnstone, after scoring, he was injured and taken off. The striker has not played since.

Rozental has been another victim of the jinx which appears to hit Rangers' signings. Since the summer, Italian Lorenzo Amoruso, bought from Fiorentina for around #4m, has not been available for selection since limping off in a testimonial against Everton at Goodison Park before the season kicked off. And Finnish international goalkeeper Antti Niemi has twice suffered broken fingers, and is only now back playing in the reserves after months on the sidelines.

Rozental was back in training more than a month ago and it appeared simply a matter of weeks before he would be appearing in the first team. Indeed, at one stage, there were hopes that he would play in the Old Firm game on January 2. Now, though, the pain he has suffered in the knee has held back that return and only the specialist will be able to tell the club when he will now be fit enough to resurrect his career.

qHamilton keeper Alan Ferguson is in a race against time to be fit to face Rangers in the Scottish Cup.

Ferguson is recovering from a knee operation and manager Sandy Clark will have a headache if he is not fit for the January 24 date. Hamilton have keeper Myles Hogarth on loan but Clark said yesterday: ''Hearts will not want the lad cup-tied. I need an experienced keeper to face Rangers and could not throw in a young lad who is in our reserve team.

''When Alan went in for his operation we were told it would be a six-week recovery period, and the game is right on that time.

''We will assess his progress in the hope that I don't need to look around for another keeper.''

Meanwhile, Hamilton appeal today to move the tie to Fir Park, Motherwell. Dumbarton and Motherwell will also be contacting the SFA today to talk about holding off their cup tie at Boghead for 24 hours until the Sunday.

qLeague impose rules - P31