Rumour Mill: Amoruso | Rangers | Celtic

Former Rangers skipper Lorenzo Amoruso gives his backing to tycoon Dave King, Fraser Forster is urged to stay at Parkhead even if he makes it to the World Cup in Brazil, and Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal ends his injury absence

Lorenzo Amoruso says he is willing to buy a season ticket for Rangers under Dave King's plan. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Amoruso urges fans to back King’s plan for Rangers

FORMER Rangers skipper Lorenzo Amoruso is prepared to put his hand in his pocket to back tycoon Dave King and his plans for radical change at Ibrox.

South African-based businessman King has called for fans to set up a trust that would pool season-ticket money and drip feed the cash to the current regime, and Amoruso said: “I would urge all fans to listen to Dave and do what he says. If he asks me to buy a season ticket through his trust I will do it. I will do anything I can to help get the club back to where it belongs.”

Furious Gers chairman David Somers has summoned King to a showdown at Ibrox and accused the former club director of making statements that are ‘very damaging to the club’. (The Sun)

Forster can stay at Celtic after Brazil World Cup

CELTIC stopper Fraser Forster will have no reason to quit the club this summer if he lands a World Cup spot, according to Parkhead goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods.

Forster, who has been tracked by the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, is one of four keepers named in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the friendly tomorrow with Denmark, alongside Joe Hart, John Ruddy and Ben Foster.

And Woods said: “There have been some admiring glances from all over Europe and that’s credit to him. Fraser is contracted here for another couple of years. He’s very happy. If we can get him to the World Cup as a Celtic player, there is no reason for him to leave.” (The Sun)

Kayal on the comeback trail

ISRAELI midfielder Beram Kayal ended a three-month injury absence with a run-out for Celtic’s Under-20s yesterday.

The Parkhead playmaker has been sidelined since breaking his foot in November’s Champions League clash with AC Milan but played an hour of the 5-0 win over Ross County at Cappielow.

Derk Boerrigter also played, while young Czech Filip Twardzik was on the scoresheet as he continued his return from injury. (The Sun).

McCann reignites relocation to England debate

FERGUS McCann believes the long-running debate over relocation to English football needs to be re-ignited if Celtic are to enjoy further growth in the years ahead.

“The English Premier League now dwarfs Scottish football financially and makes Celtic’s progress a daunting challenge,” said McCann. “Nowadays, supporters want the best, and that is impossible in Scotland generally with too many small clubs. This is obvious. It is a real achievement for Celtic to play in the Champions League group stage. In the last two years, they represented the smallest country. I would like to see the EPL expand and include Celtic. I think it could and should happen. It would triple the size of the club in financial terms, overnight.” (The Scotsman)

Stark says Griffiths will be a hit at Parkhead

SCOTLAND Under-21s boss Bill Stark reckons Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths will prove to be a Parkhead hit and makes his mark in the Champions League.

The former Hibs loan striker has blasted four goals in four starts for Celtic and earned himself a late call-up to Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad for the friendly clash with Poland tomorrow night.

Stark said: ‘There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll score plenty for Celtic and prove to be a very good signing. I know there had been some adverse reaction from the Celtic supporters but I think that was because they expected a big-money signing. It’s just guess work whether he can handle the Champions League but he has every chance.” (Daily Record)

Hartley urges hitman Nade to kick on

DUNDEE boss Paul Hartley has told Christian Nade to build on his fine display in the 2-0 win over Morton.

The bustling French forward earned a standing ovation from the home fans on Saturday as he netted his first goal for the club and Hartley has urged the 29-year-old former Hearts hitman to kick on from here.

Hartley said: “He gave us a taste of what he’s capable of. Hopefully that’s just the start of it and there’s a lot more to come from him in the run-in.” (Daily Record)

MacLean clear for Saints’ cup clash with Raith

ST JOHNSTONE striker Steven MacLean will face Raith Rovers in this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash despite picking up a red card in Saturday’s defeat against Aberdeen.

MacLean will be available for the quarter-final in Kirkcaldy but is ruled out of the SPFL game at Dundee United on 12 March.

Saints boss Tommy Wright said: “Having seen Steven’s second booking on TV , I am more convinced than ever it wasn’t warranted.” (Daily Mail)

Scottish Premiership goals

• 19 goals in the SPFL Scottish Premiership this weekend - over 3 per game. Watch all 19 here: http://po.st/19Goals

• Leigh Griffiths scored a hat trick for Celtic on Saturday. This was the pick of the three: http://po.st/GriffithsHT

• Motherwell’s Lionel Ainsworth has a habit of scoring great goals. Watch his latest golazo from the Well’s 4-1 victory over Hearts: http://po.st/LionelGoal

• Richard Brittain is arguably the best free-kick taker in Scotland. He scored another free kick (his second in as many games) in Ross County’s draw with Partick Thistle: http://po.st/BrittainFK

Tricks, skills and funny clips

• Nadir Ciftci shows yet again why he’s a fan favourite at Dundee United with this lovely piece of skill against Hibs on Friday night. Watch here: http://po.st/SkillCiftci

• Hearts’ player Paul McCallum faceplants over an advertising board during the 4-1 defeat to Motherwell, but sees the funny side of it. Watch here: http://po.st/AdBoardOuch

• Gary Mackay-Steven missed a penalty on Friday, and took to Twitter to take the mick out of himself. Watch why here: http://po.st/GMStweet

• St Mirren talisman Steven Thompson gets the ball kicked into a rather sensitive area... Watch here: http://po.st/StMouch

• Gavin Gunning celebrates his goal for Dundee United by doing a rather simplistic imitation of Robbie Keane’s somersault! Watch here: http://po.st/GunningCeleb

Match highlights

• Celtic 5-0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Watch here: http://po.st/CelICT

• Hibernian 1-3 Dundee United - Watch here: http://po.st/HibsDU

• St Mirren 2-0 Kilmarnock - Watch here: http://po.st/StMKIL

• Aberdeen 1-0 St Johnstone - Watch here: http://po.st/ABDStJ

• Motherwell 4-1 Hearts - Watch here: http://po.st/MOTHEA

• Ross County 1-1 Partick Thistle - Watch here: http://po.st/RCPT