Soccer: Mols glad to get chance at last

Rangers striker Michael Mols has been fit and raring to go for two months but has had to wait for his return to action in the first team.

The Dutch striker made his first start since September and notched what turned out to be the winner against St Johnstone within two minutes of the first whistle.

It had been the first time new manager Alex McLeish had called upon him and it had been widely assumed the player’s reconstructed knee had been keeping him on the sidelines for so long.

But Mols insisted that had not been the case.

He said: ‘‘I just need games and minutes and hopefully I can get back to my old form again.

‘‘The knee is not a problem any more. There is almost no fluid any more. That’s a good thing and I have been fit to play for two months, but I didn’t get the opportunity.’’

It was Mols’ first goal since August and his second of the season, a neat side-foot past the goalkeeper.

‘‘It was a relief to score within two minutes. I could not have asked for a better start.

‘‘I have been out for maybe two or three months and I was happy to be in the squad and start the game.

‘‘It could have been better if I had taken some of the other chances I had but at least I was there because before it was difficult to score from the stands.’’

McLeish had hinted earlier in the week he was about to give Mols his opportunity to impress and on Friday confirmed he was a starter, with Tore Andre Flo having to sit on the bench.

‘‘The manager asked about my fitness and I said I was fit and only needed games on a higher level,’’ said Mols.

‘‘I played six games for the under-21s and it did not take me any further.’’

McLeish has been trying to bring in an experienced midfielder but has so far been frustrated.

However, his latest experiment with the resources he inherited from Dick Advocaat paid off as Dutchman Ronald de Boer earned himself the man-of-the-match award as Barry Ferguson’s partner in the centre.

McLeish said: ‘‘I thought he was terrific in central midfield. He was instrumental in a lot of good play. He made the goal with a great pass.

‘‘Ronald did well last week against Dundee United with an assist and a lot of good things in the last third. A lot has come from him in those two games.’’

‘‘He played in the wide area for Barcelona but he has played in midfield for Ajax and the national team.’’

St Johnstone remain marooned at the bottom of the table but showed enough over the 90 minutes to suggest they can carry the relegation fight all the way.

Willie Falconer was denied an equaliser in the first half and Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos was needed after the break to make an even better stop from Rachid Djebaili.

Algerian Djebaili worked hard and manager Billy Stark reckoned he could yet turn into a successful surprise package.

He said: ‘‘He’s full of energy and he’s got ability.’’

Stark had been without eight players through injury and one through suspension.

One of those missing had been on-loan Blackburn goalkeeper Alan Miller, who had been deemed too much of a risk because of a groin problem.

Young Kevin Cuthbert took over between the sticks and did not let his side down.

Stark said: ‘‘He handled himself very well and grew in confidence as the game wore on.’’