High-flying Rangers itching for return to action

14 October 2011 01:35

Winger Gregg Wylde says the Rangers players are desperate to return to Scottish Premier League action against St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday after a two-week international break.

Following a slow start to the season that saw them draw their opening league match and crash out of Europe, the Glasgow giants now hold a nine-point lead over Motherwell at the top of the table.

A nine-match winning run has seen them open a ten-point lead over bitter rivals Celtic in third, although the Hoops have a game in hand and could reduce the gap, at least temporarily, with a win over Kilmarnock in Saturday's early kick-off.

Wylde has been in top form for Rangers this season and netted his first goal at Ibrox in the 2-0 win against Kilmarnock at the end of last month.

The 20-year-old says the players now aim to add to the momentum they built up before their enforced break.

"The international break can work both ways for you. It is good to keep playing for Rangers and trying to keep up the momentum in the league but it gives some of the players a rest or players who are coming back from injury extra time to recover," he said.

"We have started the season well and we want to keep that winning streak going for as long as possible.

"There are a lot of guys that have been away playing internationals over the last week or so but everyone will be fully focused on St Mirren come Saturday and hopefully we can pick up another three points."

Rangers will be without on-loan Arsenal man Kyle Bartley, who is recovering from a knee injury, but top scorer Steven Naismith will return from injury against St Mirren.

Defeat to Hearts in their last match before the international break left Celtic with a lot of catching up to do already.

The Hoops have lost five of their last ten matches in all competitions this season and defender Charlie Mulgrew says they must go on a winning run if they are to catch Rangers, starting with Saturday's match at Rugby Park.

"It's only October and there's a long, long way to go. We're looking to win every game, like we always do, and be as positive as we can," he said.

"There'll be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season and we'll look to win every game and be as positive as we can."

Neil Lennon's side will be without captain Scott Brown, Emilio Izaguirre and Cha Du Ri through injury while Kris Commons is suspended following his sending off in the defeat to Hearts.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Inverness Caledonian Thistle face a tough task as they attempt to climb off the bottom of the league with an away trip to high-flying St Johnstone.

Hearts will look to build on their victory against Celtic when they go to Dunfermline, who have slipped to second bottom after a run of five matches without a win.

Aberdeen, who are just a point off bottom spot, could leapfrog visitors Dundee United if they can win the New Firm derby at Pittodrie.

Motherwell will have midfielder Steve Jennings available for selection for the trip to Easter Road despite his arrest for conspiracy to defraud following a police investigation into match betting irregularities last week.

Fixtures (1400GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Kilmarnock v Celtic (1130), Aberdeen v Dundee United, Dunfermline v Hearts, Hibernian v Motherwell, Rangers v St Mirren, St Johnstone v Inverness CT

Source: AFP