SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE/Celtic v Rangers:TONY MOWBRAY acknowledged the danger of Kris Boyd ahead of tomorrow's Old Firm derby at Parkhead but is looking for the matchwinners to come from his own side.
Rangers striker Boyd smashed Hoops legend Henrik Larsson's Scottish Premier League scoring record with five goals in a 7-1 win over Dundee United on Wednesday night.
Boyd's 19th goal in 18 SPL appearances this season took his overall tally to 160 and the former Kilmarnock striker, who has not always featured against Celtic, is certain to start in a game where victory will take the visitors 10 points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the Premier League.
Mowbray will keep a keen eye on the in-form striker but is confident there will be plenty of dangermen in green and white.
"Boyd is a threat, obviously," the former Celtic defender said. "I go back to when I was a player. In any given second Ally McCoist could score a goal and I think Kris Boyd is in a similar mould.
"You might not notice him for long spells and then he is there, he knows where to run, he knows where to go.
"I don't see why Boyd won't play against us but I wouldn't pick Walter Smith's team for him.
"I'm only interested in getting the right team on the pitch for us and trying to give Rangers as many problems as possible.
"Rangers have got players who can score goals and will always be a threat.
"They are well set up at the back, hard to break down and the experience of Davie Weir is crucial to them. In fact, they have some experienced players throughout the team and so we are respectful."
Celtic will have been boosted by Kenny Miller yesterday failing to overturn his red card against United, which rules the Rangers forward out of the game. But Mowbray is more interested in what his own strikers will do this weekend.
"In this game I hope we have the matchwinners in our side," he added. "We have to look at it as confidently as we can and believe that we can create chances.
"We have players ourselves who can score goals and go past individuals and cause damage. So hopefully it is a great game because there are so many good footballers on the pitch.
"It's certainly a game we are all looking forward to. Old Firm games are always exceptional occasions."
Mowbray will have the option of introducing South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng to his squad while Darren O'Dea should also be available after ending his loan spell at Reading.
However, Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney are both definitely out of the derby and probably won't return for another few weeks.
Rangers will be without Madjid Bougherra after he joined up with the rest of the Algeria squad ahead of the African Nations Cup, paving the way for Danny Wilson's return to the first team.
Nacho Novo and Sasa Papac are both struggling with a sickness bug, while Kevin Thomson, DaMarcus Beasley and Steven Naismith are likely to remain on the sidelines.
Boyd is bursting with confidence but is more than happy for someone else to steal the limelight in the Old Firm derby as long as Rangers win.
"At the end of the day it doesn't matter how you get them and who scores - it's just about getting the three points."
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