Stars return for Rangers

Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, Christian Dailly and Lee McCulloch all return from injury for Rangers’ SPL clash with Celtic at Ibrox today.

The quartet had missed Scotland’s friendly against Croatia at Hampden on Wednesday night with various ailments but declared themselves fit for the visit of the champions.

Frenchman Jean-Claude Darcheville makes his Old Firm debut as the lone striker for the Light Blues who know victory would take them six points clear at the top of the SPL and still with a game in hand over their big rivals.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has surprisingly dropped scorer Scott McDonald to the bench with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras starting in attack together for the first time.

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker, Dailly, Thomson, Davis, Ferguson, McCulloch, Darcheville.

Subs: Alexander, Boyd, Novo, Adam, Naismith, Furman, McMillan.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Samaras.

Subs: Mark Brown, Wilson, Sno, Donati, Robson, McDonald, O’Dea.

Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).