Rangers v Celtic:ROBBIE KEANE is a major doubt for tomorrow's Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
The Celtic striker has not trained all week and will be assessed before the lunchtime kick-off in Govan.
Defender Edson Braafheid did not train yesterday either due to a calf injury and stopper Jos Hooiveld is still out with a hamstring injury.
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray said: “I am not going to tell you what Robbie’s injury is but he hasn’t trained all week.
“I wouldn’t want to say how big a blow it is or could be because we hope he will be fit but we will wait and see. I will give the injured players as long as we can.
“They will have to train tomorrow and have no reaction when they wake up on Sunday morning, so we will wait and see.”
Keane’s fellow Republic of Ireland internationals Aiden McGeady and Darren O’Dea return from suspension while Glenn Loovens has a chance after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Walter Smith has confirmed Allan McGregor is fit and available for the game but the manager has stopped short of guaranteeing that Rangers’ first-choice goalkeeper will start at Ibrox.
McGregor was left with a badly bruised eye and cuts to his back after an alleged street attack in Glasgow last Saturday night and Strathclyde police came to Rangers’ training ground yesterday to discuss the incident with him.
The 28-year-old – who is no stranger to controversy after being banned by Scotland last year following a heavy drinking session – should retain his place for Celtic’s visit unless Smith decides, as he has done in the past, that the goalkeeper is suffering from a lack of mental focus.
“He’s fit to play, he is fit and available,” said Smith. “You will just have to wait like the rest of the team (to see if he plays) but he’s fit and available. I think he’ll be all right. If he plays, he’ll be fine.”
Smith added that McGregor still has changes to make in his private life.
“Maybe 20 or 25 years ago – or maybe nearer to my own time as a player – footballers were far closer to supporters, in financial terms and other ways,” the former Scotland manager said. “But now it’s different, and they have to behave in a different manner, and this is where Allan has got adjustments to make.”
Celtic cross the city trailing Rangers by seven points in the league table, and having played a game more.
McGregor’s situation, added to the revelation that Celtic have been in contact with the Scottish Football Association regarding what they perceive as poor refereeing decisions this season, have provided a colourful backdrop to the build-up.
Kenny Miller, the Rangers striker, believes that Celtic have no more right to grievances about match officials than any other SPL club.
“Every team in the league could sit down and look at decisions that go against them over the course of a season, whether that be going for the league, going for Europe or fighting against relegation.
“I am sure teams have lost points over the season and felt aggrieved,” said Miller.
“The timing is not great, going into an Old Firm game but if they think they have a case then fair enough.”
