Soccer: Lovenkrands sidelined again

Rangers winger Peter Lovenkrands’ stop-start Ibrox career was back on hold today after he was injured in the Old Firm reserve derby.

The Dane left Airdrie’s New Broomfield Stadium on crutches last night after being hurt during the 0-0 draw with Celtic’s second string.

He was taken to hospital for X-rays but under-21 coach John McGregor said he hoped the damage would be found not to be serious.

He said: ‘‘Lovenkrands took a knock to his foot when he went in for a tackle and when he was just starting to run it off when he was caught late again on the same side.

‘‘He went away for an X-ray last night because his foot was fairly swollen and bruised after the game but hopefully like most knocks it looks worse than it actually is.’’

The 21-year-old has been plagued by injury since his £1.3million switch from AB Copenhagen in June 2000, when he snubbed Newcastle to play for Dick Advocaat.

He started just two games last season at Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League and in the Champions League at home to Galatasaray before a hamstring injury sidelined him.

The same problem has limited his appearances this term and he has yet to start in any competition, although he did come off the bench to score his first Rangers goal earlier in the month in the UEFA Cup at Dynamo Moscow.

The latest setback came on the day his agent, Ivan Benes, claimed Serie A giants Inter Milan were interested following impressive performances for the Danish Under-21 side.

Striker Michael Mols completed 78 minutes of last night’s match as he once again sought full fitness.

The Dutchman is becoming more and more frustrated that he cannot break into the first team now that Shota Arveladze and Tore Andre Flo have struck up a partnership.

Mols is ahead of Billy Dodds in the Ibrox pecking order but with Claudio Caniggia either the third striker or first reserve chances have been limited and he has not even made the bench in recent weeks.

But Arveladze is ineligible for the UEFA Cup third round clash with Paris St Germain later in the month so Mols, who has said he was prepared to go on loan to get regular first-team football, is focusing on that fixture most of all.

Mols, who had needed treatment following an early challenge from Celtic defender Jamie Goodwin, said: ‘‘I felt good after the match with no adverse reaction from my knee which is important, but how it feels in the next day or so will allow me to fully evaluate how far I have progressed.

‘‘Playing for the under-21s is good at the beginning of rehabilitation but now I need more competitive games. I said that I could go on loan because to make that last step I need regular games, but that was just a suggestion. I wasn’t giving any ultimatums.

‘‘The first team are doing so well at the moment so there is no need to change anything.

‘‘For me the most important thing is to train with the top team for a couple of weeks in a row and hopefully I can get some games, maybe in the UEFA Cup now my suspension is up.

‘‘Everyone has to be at the top of their fitness to play in the first team and for me to reach that I need matches.’’