RANGERS will be without the two most important players in their side of recent weeks when they try to collect some reward for a long season in the Tennents Scottish Cup final against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday.
Manager Walter Smith received confirmation yesterday that Jorg Albertz is suspended after having been ordered off in controversial circumstances in the final league game against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.
Making that blow even harder to take is the news that Jonas Thern has been ruled out of contention, too, because of injury.
The Swede, who hit his best form in the latter part of the season, has been absent since he pulled a hamstring muscle in the 3-0 win over Hearts a couple of weeks ago. However, hopes were high that he would have made a full recovery in time for the big day.
Said Smith: ''It's disappointing to lose both him and Albertz from our midfield area. I thought that both in the cup semi-final and the league game against Celtic they were probably our two best players.''
Smith received confirmation for the SFA yesterday that the German's red card at Tannadice was considered violent conduct and meant automatic suspension for the final.
He feels the German was a bit harshly treated after a rare loss of temper. Smith said: ''It is a set-back because Albertz has been influential in our performances at the end of the season.
''It's every bit as much of a blow to the player and it seems he received a rather tough sentence for the incident at Tannadice.''
Albertz said: ''I'm disappointed to miss the final, but I hope the team can go on and win the match.''
There was better news for Smith concerning keeper Andy Goram, who has returned to training. Smith said: ''Andy has suffered no reaction to the training and we'll give him every chance to be fit.''
qDUNFERMLINE manager Bert Paton last night said he was confident of keeping Andy Smith. The 25-goal striker will tell the club this week what his future plans are after his best season.
Smith, 29, has one year of his contract to go, but Tommy Burns, in charge of Reading, and Aberdeen have expressed an interest in the #400,000-rated player.
However, Paton and his board will do all they can to ensure that Scotland B internationalist remains at Dunfermline. Paton said: ''I will speak to Andy again before the weekend, but I would say the initial talks were encouraging.
''We obviously want to keep Andy. He has another year on his present deal to run, but we want to extend that contract. I will also be talking to Richard Huxford and Jamie Squires, who are on loan and a short-term deal respectively.''
Results and fixtures
Friendly - Sporting Lisbon 2 (Alves, Gimenez), Celtic 1 (Stubbs).
East Juniors: John Walker League Div 1 - Bonnybridge 1, Musselburgh Athletic 0. Div 2 - Bathgate Thistle 2, Dalkeith Thistle 1; Dunbar United 3, Ormiston Primrose 1; West Calder United 2, Livingston United 1.
Glasgow City Council Under-15 Challenge - Scotland 1 (Nicol), Hungary 1 (Kanta).
Today's football
Cup-winners' Cup Final - Chelsea v VfB Stuttgart.
Play-Off Semi-finals, second legs: Div 1 - Charlton v Ipswich, Sunderland v Sheffield United. Div 2 - Grimsby v Fulham, Northampton v Bristol Rovers Div 3 - Colchester v Barnet, Torquay v Scarborough.
Trophy Centre Under-14 Shield Final - St Andrew's Acad (Paisley) v St Margaret's High (Airdrie), Arthurlie FC 6.30.
Digital Under-13 Cup Final - Auchinleck Acad v Irvine Royal Acad (Dam Park, Ayr 7.0).
(Kick-offs 7.45 unless stated)
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