McCANN NOW READY TO STEP FROM GAZZA'S SHADOW.

NEIL McCANN nearly stole the show when Hearts and Rangers met in the 1996 League Cup final.

The guy who did steal the headlines - and the Cup - for Rangers was Paul Gascoigne.

Gazza has gone.

And Rangers have lost key players, namely Jorg Albertz and Jonas Thern in the build up to this make-or-break decider for both clubs.

And McCann is happier that the German and the Swede will watch from the stand today, rather than meet him on the field.

"Everyone said how well I played in the Coca-Cola Cup final at Parkhead in 1996 - but at the end of the day we still lost," recalls Neil.

"I'd love to put on another performance like that on Saturday and win the Cup.

Albertz and Thern not playing is a huge boost for us.

"I didn't see the Albertz sending off but, really, he is capable of doing something special for Rangers.

"In their last few games, Albertz has been magnificent, and they'll miss him more than we will.

"But Rangers still have quality players."

Hearts haven't beaten Rangers, or Celtic for that matter, in the league this season.

That record isn't a problem though for the Jambos' star winger.

"The players are not looking at failing to beat the Old Firm as a monkey on their backs," he said.

"We're disappointed that we faded out of the title run-in, and at the points we dropped to Rangers and Celtic, because they dropped points as well near the end.

"But if we won the Cup on Saturday, everything about an Old Firm jinx would be forgotten about."

McCann likes playing at Parkhead.

But events there this week have taken some of the attention away from Saturday's gala occasion.

"Other than Ibrox, Parkhead is the best in Scotland, and when it's finished it will be one of the best in Britain.

I had a good game there in the Coca-Cola Cup final, because the atmosphere does give you a lift.

"Looking at the scenes there last Saturday when Celtic won the league, if the Hearts and Rangers fans can generate that type of atmosphere it should be a great occasion.

"We went for a few days to Stratford which kept us out of the limelight a wee bit.

But the build up has been a bit subdued, I think, because of the Wim Jansen thing and the Scotland squad being announced.

"It's not often you get a manager walking out after winning something as big as the title.

"The players enjoy the build up, and the attention, but I wouldn't say it's been a hindrance with the media not being about when we were down in the Midlands." When that Scotland squad was announced, the name of the 23-year-old former Dundee star didn't appear.

But, he wasn't surprised by that.

"Craig Brown didn't phone me.

I don't think he needed to.

"I wasn't counting on being in the squad any way.

"Realistically, I've got to be looking at the European championships in 2000.

I have many things I still need to learn, and I've two 'B' caps which were useful at getting used to the set-up.

"But now I have to play well throughout the season, because I have to be looking at the European championship.

"But before then, I'll be in Europe with Hearts - hopefully in the Cup- Winners-Cup."