McLeish focused

Soccer Digest:Alex McLeish is refusing to comment further on his possible sacking by Rangers and the club's rebuffing of an approach from Portsmouth. "I'm really, totally focused on Rangers' next couple of games, first and foremost the Falkirk game," he said yesterday.

"Everything else is total speculation that I don't want to comment on. There has been enough in the media over the last 10 weeks to eclipse War and Peace."

McLeish remains high on Milan Mandaric's wanted list, even though the Glasgow club have already refused the Portsmouth chairman permission to speak to their beleaguered boss.

Rangers have now recorded their worst run of results in the club's history after their winless streak extended to eight games following last week's defeat by Hibernian.

Today's visit by Falkirk and Tuesday's Champions League game against Inter Milan look set to seal his fate one way or another after chairman David Murray said his position would be assessed in December.

"I'm not interested in anything that's happening outside this club over the next two games," said McLeish, who refused to give a specific date for such talks. "The chairman said we would talk again in December, and December has a few days in that month, so we will just have to wait and see what happens."

McLeish stressed that Falkirk, who have defied predictions that they would be relegation favourites after promotion last season, are dangerous opponents but was hopeful of ending Rangers' run.

"The Falkirk game is one that the players can go into with one eye on the Champions League from the point of view that they give me selection problems and they give a great performance against Falkirk," he added.

Meanwhile, versatile Kevin McNaughton should recover from a thigh strain picked up in training to feature for Aberdeen against league leaders Celtic on Sunday.

However, defender Michael Hart is out with a groin injury, midfielder Scott Severin has a broken foot and striker Steve Lovell has a knee infection.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan hopes to have midfielders Shunsuke Nakamura and Shaun Maloney back to fitness. Striker Maciej Zurawski is also pushing for a starting place after injury.

Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas is rated doubtful with a hamstring injury for the visit of Livingston today, while back-up goalkeeper Steve Banks is struggling with the ankle problem.

Xavi may miss finals

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Xavi may miss the World Cup finals in Germany next summer after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The 25-year-old suffered the injury during a training session and will definitely not return this season.

Xavi was hurt during a challenge with Brazilian defender Edmilson and it will be six months before he recovers. He will undergo surgery today.

"It's better we operate as soon as possible," said club doctor Jordi Ardevol. Xavi is a key member of Barca's side which tops La Liga and has also won 33 caps for his country.

Solskjaer surprise

Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to feature for the reserves next Monday - only days after Alex Ferguson hinted he may not play again. The 32-year-old has been out of action for two years and Ferguson had played down his chances of an imminent return.

"On Tuesday he hadn't trained with the first team at all, but now he has and he looked absolutely terrific." Ferguson said. "I am really pleased about this and there is some light at the end of the tunnel now."

Solskjaer originally damaged cruciate ligaments in September 2003 against Panathinaikos in the Champions League. He made a brief return at the end of that season, playing as a substitute in United's FA Cup final win over Millwall before suffering a relapse.

No bid for strikers

Real Betis coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer has denied that his club have tried to sign Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle on loan. Some reports also suggested the Spanish club wanted former Spurs forward Helder Postiga.

"They have been offered to the club, but I don't believe they are players we need at the moment," Serra Ferrer said.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has also denied that Sinama-Pongolle is on the move. "I have read some of the rumours in the Spanish press and I have to say it is not true," he said.

Crack in stadium

Kaiserslautern have said their ground's status as a World Cup venue is not in doubt after their league game with Eintracht Frankfurt was postponed.

A crack appeared in the east stand of their Fritz-Walter-Stadion and it could not be repaired before the weekend. Rebuilding work at the ground, which was originally built in 1920, was finished in November after some delays.

World Cup organising committee spokesman Jens Grittner said he was confident the stadium would be ready.

Meanwhile 18 of the 22 national team jerseys placed in display cabinets around the Berlin underground have reportedly been stolen by thieves.

Final cancelled

The IFA League Cup final between Glentoran and Linfield scheduled for Windsor Park today has been put back to December 10th because of George Best's funeral.

"We felt it would be inappropriate to carry on with the match," said IFA chief executive Howard Wells. A number of Irish League games scheduled for December 10th are expected to be played the evening before.