Rangers might’ve slipped up in the Scottish Premiership title hunt but don’t let anyone tell you the final Old Firm clash of the season v Celtic is a dead rubber.
Rangers will welcome Celtic after the Scottish Premiership split and have begun to crack their Old Firm rivals in a way that appears to have riled Brendan Rodgers.
Neil McCann laughed off Rodgers’ complaints about Vaclav Cerny, the Czech winger having immortalised himself at Ibrox with his celebrations at Celtic Park.
The Celtic manager has also dominated this fixture over his two stints in Glasgow, but Rangers have begun to turn the tide with two victories on the bounce.
With the post-split fixtures still undecided, there is one more Old Firm to come as Rangers hope to make it three wins on the trot over Celtic at Ibrox.
But ahead of time, injury could force Rodgers into giving one inexperienced player an Old Firm baptism of fire in Glasgow’s southside.
Kasper Schmeichel a major Old Firm doubt
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel looks set to miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury.
Schmeichel sustained a shoulder injury whilst playing for Denmark during the most recent international break with the Parkhead side believing the 38-year-old will be missing for up to six weeks.
This is a timeline that takes the stopper into the middle of May, meaning Schmeichel is likely to miss the final Old Firm derby of the season.
Schmeichel’s antics in the Premier Sports Cup drew complaints from Rangers fans earlier in the season and the stopper’s absence from the Old Firm clash is a blow to Celtic.
This was a match dogged by dodgy officiating with Rangers denied a stonewall penalty in extra time.
“This is just something that, day by day, we’ll have a look at, but the timeline that was given to us was maybe around about (six weeks),” Rodgers said (BBC Sport).
“Kasper tends to think it might not be as long as that, but certainly in the immediate future he won’t be available.”
Celtic signing set for Rangers Old Firm baptism of fire
That means Celtic are likely to start with Finnish international goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo for the trip to face Rangers at Ibrox.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper deputised for Schmeichel in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Hearts last weekend and looks likely to retain the gloves until Schmeichel‘s return.
Should Schmeichel remain sidelined, Sinisalo – who moved to Celtic for £1m from Premier League outfit Aston Villa at the start of the season – is in line for Old Firm baptism of fire at Ibrox.
We’re sure the Rangers fans will make it a game to remember for the former Ayr United loanee!
