Steven is back as Rangers aim to maintain pressure

ian paul

10 Mar 1993

EVEN if it is a truism of football that, in the manager's eyes, the only important game is the next one, the six leaders of the teams involved in the premier-division matches tonight have good cause to expound the old theme.

As a start, Rangers have 41 reasons -- the number of games they have gone undefeated -- to want to beat St Johnstone, who would love the kudos of ending that record, Celtic and Hearts are racing each other for third place and the probable UEFA Cup spot that goes with it, while Falkirk are desperately in need of a win over Dundee who would do themselves a great favour by overcoming the Brockville side.

Rangers manager Walter Smith did not even mention the unbeaten record as he illustrated how vital the game at McDiarmid Park will be.

"This one and our next game against Hibs take us into the last quarter of the season," he said, "and if we go into that stage with as good a lead in the league as we have just now, it would be a great boost to our title aspirations."

Smith will probably field a team without international keeper Andy Goram who has flu.

He missed the win at Arbroath on Saturday because of injury and his place was filled by Ally Maxwell, who is ready to deputise again tonight.

Also unlikley to appear is Pieter Huistra who has a leg injury, but Trevor Steven is fit and likely to be back in the side.

Suggestions that John Brown would be the subject of a Leeds United bid were dismissed by the manager, who has no fears that the defender will opt to go elsewhere when his contract ends this summer.

"I have spoken to John," said Smith, "but we have not had time to sort out the details of his new contract.

That will be done as soon as we get the chance but there is no problem."

Smith also acknowledged that he and Andy Roxburgh, the national coach, will be having a discussion about the selection of Rangers players for the friendly with Germany later this month, but he would give no clues as to his viewpoint.

St Johnstone have a new name in their squad.

Player-manager John McClelland returned yesterday to one of his former clubs, Watford, to sign 32-year-old midfield player David Byrne on a free transfer.

McClelland was working hard to get clearance for Byrne, who has been on loan to Shamrock Rovers, for the game tonight.

He said: "He has vast experience of the English League and can play either in midfield or in a wide role.

He will be in my plans for tomorrow if we get the OK but whatever happens we won't stop Rangers if we play as we did in the Scottish Cup.

We went out with a whimper.

"Everyone at the club -- players and coaches -- must take a look at themselves to see where we went wrong but changes will definitely follow."

Paul Sweeney has been ruled out with a leg injury but Ukrainian sweeper Sergei Baltacha and Harry Curran are back in contention.

Celtic are almost certain to sell their Republic of Ireland striker Tommy Coyne to Tranmere Rovers today for a fee of around £400,000.

Coyne is in the pool for the game with Hearts tonight but the Merseyside club are expected to try to seal the deal well before the English transfer deadline of March 18.

Celtic manager Liam Brady deflected the next question by saying that, if that comes about, he would not be attempting to sign a player in time to beat the Scottish deadline of March 20.

"I am confident that we have the players here to get us into Europe."

Brady adds Joe Miller and Tony Mowbray to his squad for the visit of Hearts to Parkhead, but he is not saying whether Mowbray will play for the first time since January 2.

"His injury was more complicated than we thought at first, but he is fit again and the fact that he is in the pool is good news."

Brady regards the game as vital for the European ambitions but so, too, does Joe Jordan, even if his team are now also in the cup semi-final.

Jordan has more immediate concerns to sort out.

Peter van de Ven is still suspended, while Ally Mauchlen is doubtful through injury, but the biggest worry is a virus affecting Tosh McKinlay, John Robertson, and George Wright.

One bonus is the return of Craig Levein after a four-match suspension.

Falkirk's chance of survival will look remote unless they take points from their home game with Dundee.

Manager Jim Jefferies, who yesterday was fined £50 by the SFA and warned as to his conduct because of criticisms he made following games against the Old Firm earlier this season, said: "We have to win and start the move upwards.

I still believe we are better than relegation candidates."

His recent injury problems have been immense but they eased a little with the news that Fraser Wishart and Richard Cadette may be back, while Ian McCall is free from suspension.

However, Neil Duffy has been added to the casualty list.

Taken from the Herald