The forgotten man returns

Ian Paul

5 Oct 1991

IN TIMES when the diligent rather than the delightful player dominates football, the news that Celtic bring back Jacki Dziekanowski to the fold today ought to please those who prefer flair to hare.

The Polish striker had become the forgotten man of Scottish football, languishing in the Celtic reserves without any outside agency apparently interested in taking him from Glasgow.

The man who scored four goals in Celtic's memorable match with Partizan Belgrade two years ago has been hauled in from the shadows by manager Liam Brady to the squad for the game against Hearts at Parkhead.

"Initially I went along with Nicholas, Cascarino, and Coyne because there were so many front men here," said Brady, "but I have found Jacki to be a hard worker and playing so well in the reserves that I want him to see he is part of our plans."

The Polish internationalist's slump has been a mystery to his fans, of whom there were many, after the impact he made on the Scottish game when he came from Legia Warsaw for £600,000 two and half years ago.

He lost his scoring touch and failed to keep his place in the team.

Despite his being available for transfer he has said that he is happy in Glasgow and it would be a mutually satisfactory solution if he can regain his form for Celtic.

It may be he will be on the bench today, but an appearance at some stage seems likely.

Both Joe Miller, who missed the 1-1 draw in Belgium in midweek, and Charlie Nicholas, who missed the second half because of an ankle injury, have been passed fit and, along with Tony Cascarino and Tommy Coyne, make up a sizable collection of forwards from whom Brady can select.

Whoever is chosen, Celtic face a formidable team in the other half of the field.

Hearts have won all five of their away matches this season, a record which explains their place at the head of the premier division.

The confidence in the playing system devised by manager Joe Jordan is one reason for that record, according to internationalist Craig Levein.

"We play positively away from home, just as at home, and the players are enjoying the system," he said.

"But this will be our toughest away match of the season so far."

The drain of energy and inspiration invariably experienced by teams back from European campaigns could work in the favour of Hearts, who will have Ian Baird back after suspension.

Graeme Hogg and John Robertson will be checked for fitness this morning, but both are expected to play.

Rangers, who could suffer from post-European disappointment as well as tiredness, will have not much time to gather their strength at Broomfield, where Airdrie will be in determined mood.

Unfortunately, the reaction to the mistake made by referee David Syme which gave Dunfermline an undeserved penalty in the Skol Cup semi-final will no doubt have the local supporters bellowing at every decision he gives in Rangers' favour, but Syme has vast experience and can be expected to ride the storm.

Rangers will be concerned more about their own mediocre recent form.

In the past 10 days or so they have been eliminated from the Skol Cup by Hibernian, lost to Aberdeen at home, and gone out of Europe.

Manager Walter Smith's thoughts about giving young striker John Spencer his head have had to be shelved as well, because the sharp little foward has the flu.

He joins a list of non-starters which includes John Brown, Ian Ferguson, and Mark Hateley.

Smith hopes and expects his chosen XI to get the club back on the rails.

The same remark applies to his namesake at Pittodrie, Alex Smith, whose side were well beaten by Danish club BK 1903 in Copenhagen on Wednesday but, on their Ibrox form, when they beat Rangers comfortably last Saturday, they would be tough for St Mirren to cope with.

But Saints' 4-1 win over Dunfermline on the same day has revived confidence in Paisley.

The Pittodrie team will have Paul Mason, who was ineligible in Denmark, back but striker Hans Gillhaus is out because of a knee injury.

Young defender Stephen Wright, who has a similar injury, will have a fitness test this morning.

Hibs, fresh and chirpy after having retained their unbeaten record by drawing against Celtic last week, remain virtually injury-free -- as they have been all season, for their game against Dunfermline at Easter Road.

Manager Alex Miller dismisses talk of a rehearsal for the Skol Cup final between the teams on October 27 -- "I am not even thinking about the Skol Cup" -- and his opposite number, Jocky Scott, has no room to think that far ahead, either.

Scott, the new manager at East End Park, described his team's showing as a "shambles" after last week's thrashing by St Mirren and has no regrets about his remarks.

"All I did was tell the truth," said the manager.

Taken from the Herald