Football / Scottish Preview: Old boy awaits strange away day

PHIL O'DONNELL, Celtic's pounds 1.75m midfielder, could be forgiven for entering the home dressing-room at Fir Park today. It is just three weeks since the 22-year-old Scottish international left Motherwell to become Celtic's record buy.

'It is going to be a very strange day and I don't know what kind of reaction I'm going to get,' O'Donnell said. 'I will know the place and the people, but I will be there helping Celtic and that's all that matters.'

Celtic will give a late fitness test to Paul McStay, absent last week with an ankle injury. Tony Mowbray (flu) and Simon Donnelly (knee) are doubtful for the league leaders. Motherwell, who went out of the Uefa Cup to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, have Andy Roddie and Paul McGrillen available. Roddie was ineligible against the Germans and McGrillen was suspended.

Rangers entertain Dundee United at Ibrox with the Tannadice club likely to feel the exertions of a journey back from Slovakia after Thursday's Cup-Winners' Cup defeat to Tatran Presov. Walter Smith will lack the suspended Gordon Durie, but Ally McCoist is ready to play after scoring in a reserve game this week. Ian Ferguson, who missed the 2-2 draw at Aberdeen last week, is also close to fitness.