Soccer Scottish Premier League Round-up: Rangers manager Alex McLeish praised midfielder Fernando Ricksen for his role in a hard-earned 2-1 win at Aberdeen yesterday, which cut Celtic's lead at the top of the table back to three points. Martin O'Neill's side beat Motherwell 2-0 on Saturday.
Ricksen's contract expires at the end of the season and Everton have been strongly linked with a move. It is likely he will remain at Ibrox until the end of the season however, and talks with his agent about a possible new deal to stay beyond that will take place in the next few days.
But McLeish admitted the player was "confused" by the uncertainty surrounding his future and praised him for not allowing it to affect his performance on the pitch.
He said: "He is an important player and has been all season. It shows that with the speculation surrounding him he was as committed as ever. I am sure he is a bit confused but for him to play the way he did says a lot about him."
Ricksen refused to comment on his future but admitted he would not be claiming the crucial second goal yesterday.
With Dado Prso having marked his return to the starting line-up with a ninth-minute opener, Aberdeen goalkeeper Ryan Esson made a hash of a corner from the Dutchman and diverted the ball towards his own net.
Kevin McNaughton, the man on the line, got a final touch with his head, but Esson admitted the error had been his.
The Dons did pull one goal back soon afterwards, through Darren Mackie.
Jackie McNamara, meanwhile, came through another SPL stroll on Saturday and insisted Scottish football would be much better off if Celtic were allowed to join the English league.
The champions now have 59 points from 23 games after goals by Bulgarian Stilian Petrov and Chris Sutton secured victory.
Celtic captain McNamara fears he will never play in a Premiership fixture, given that his career is in its later stages.
But the 31-year-old welcomed Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell's claims that Celtic and Rangers would one day join the English football elite.
Motherwell manager Terry Butcher agreed after his side's defeat at Parkhead that Celtic had become too strong for the Scottish league.
The debate has once again been resurrected, but while McNamara would welcome the move, he does not think it will happen while he is still playing.
The 31-year-old, who looks set to sign a new two-year extension, said: "Few managers have come out and said that. This has been spoken about for so many years and to be honest I can't see it happening during my playing career.
"But it would be good for Scottish football and as a whole the Old Firm."
