Lambert may be on Celtic bench

Paul Lambert may be an unusual substitute for Celtic when the Old Firm come together for the first time this season. It is not often that an international midfielder with a European Cup medal, newly-signed for £2 million, is confined to the bench. But Lambert's transfer from Borussia Dortmund was formalised only yesterday, leaving little time for his appraisal by the coach, Wim Jansen.

The Dutchman would have preferred a full week in which to work with the player. Jansen confirmed that Lambert became a target the moment the coach saw him in Scotland's match against Belarus at Pittodrie in early September.

"That was at the start of my career here and everybody had been talking about him," said Jansen. "When I saw him, I knew they were right and decided there and then we should have him."

With striker Henrik Larsson apparently none the worse for his training-ground collision with teammate Tosh McKinlay, it is unlikely that Jansen will alter the side who have won their last eight league matches and share the leadership with Hearts.

Celtic chairman Fergus McCann revealed yesterday that it is unlikely that either McKinlay or Larsson will be punished for their fight. "As things stand," said McCann, "no action is likely. If we do decide to do something, it will not be made public."

McKinlay, not involved in the first-team squad, has been given the weekend off by the club and will not return until next Thursday as he joins the Scotland squad next week for Wednesday's match with France in St Etienne. Ranger manager Walter Smith will recall captain Richard Gough to central defence.

Gough missed last week's match against Kilmarnock because of a virus and his place was taken by Stuart McCall. Rangers are unbeaten in the last eight league matches between the great rivals, with five victories.

"That may give us a slight psychological edge," said Smith, "but an edge can be lost through performance.

"The game, as always, is interesting because the teams are near the top of the league. But I am hoping a lot of last season's tension has been reduced. Then, the tension was often there to the detriment of the game itself. "There are a few newcomers and foreigners on this occasion, but most of them will have had experience of derby-type situations with their own clubs and shouldn't be too badly affected."

--Guardian Service