Rumour Mill: Lustig injury? | Scotland v Croatia

Celtic's Mikael Lustig could miss out on the Champions League games against Ajax. Picture: Robert Perry

Lustig gives Celtic new injury scare

CELTIC could face a major new injury headache after Mikael Lustig hobbled off during Sweden’s World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Lustig suffered a hip injury in the 2-1 win over Austria, and has admitted that the injury “doesn’t feel good”.

The Swede is now a doubt for Celtic’s vital Champions League double-header against Ajax. (Sun)

Scotland v Croatia: Snodgrass back, Modric out?

• ROBERT Snodgrass has rejoined the Scotland squad after his partner Denise gave birth to a baby daughter, Leonie, at the end of last week. Snodgrass scored the winner when the teams met in Zagreb in June. (Scotsman)

• 97% of Croatian fans want boss Igor Stimac to go, according to a newspaper poll. Stimac was slammed for watching his side’s defeat to Belgium from the dugout - in an apparent bid to preserve his £725 suit. (Record)

• Scotland will offer Croatia the ideal tune-up for their World Cup qualifying play-off, according to keeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Pletikosa said: “This match in Glasgow is perfect before the play-off. (Scotland) will give us a good test.” (Record)

• Real Madrid star Luka Modric could be dropped from the Croatia side for tomorrow’s game at Hampden. Modric is one yellow card away from a ban from the first leg of their play-off - 11 of Modric’s squadmates are in the same situation. (Express)

• 33-year-old Ovidiu Hategan will referee tomorrow’s clash. The Romanian holds the record as the youngest-ever Champions League referee.

Rangers rebels ‘could delay AGM’

THE ANNUAL general meeting of Rangers shareholders could be delayed until November if a quartet of would-be directors are successful in court today.

Paul Murray, Malcolm Murray, Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson have lodged a court bid to force a motion onto the agenda at the AGM calling for their nomination to the board.

If their bid is successful, a 21-day notice period of the change to the agenda will be served to shareholders. This would postpone the AGM until 8 November at the earliest. (Sun)

King return to Rangers board will need SFA OK

DAVE King’s bid to become chairman of Rangers will first need to be ratified by the Scottish Football Association, it has been confirmed.

King will need to pass a “fit and proper” test ordered by the SFA if he is to return to Ibrox as chairman.

An SFA spokesman said: “You need a formal application from the club if he [King] is going on the official return and then it will go to the SFA Board for discussion.” (Scotsman

Celtic shareholders demand Rangers complaint

SHAREHOLDERS at Celtic are calling for the club to lodge a UEFA complaint over Scottish football’s governing bodies’ handling of the collapse of Rangers.

A group of shareholders have lodged a motion for the Celtic AGM asking for a probe into Rangers’ readmission to the SFA, although the Celtic board have already stated that they will oppose the motion.

The issue will be discussed at the club’s AGM on 15 November. (Express)

Butcher: Star McKay ‘to stay in north’

BILLY McKay will not leave Inverness Caley Thistle unless a “really special” bid is made for the Northern Ireland international, according to manager Terry Butcher.

McKay, the top scorer in this season’s Premiership with eight goals so far, has been subject of speculation linking him with clubs across Europe.

Butcher said: “(Billy) is much admired by other managers in the league but it would take a really special fee to get him.

“Billy is almost the perfect attacked and he will cost a lot of money.” (P&J)

Sports columns: Dave King dominates papers

• FORMER Celtic striker John Hartson hopes that Dave King has the interests of Rangers’ fans at heart.

Writing in the Sun, Hartson said: “(Fans) have had a few false starts, with people who have tried to pull the wool over peoples’ eyes, so I hope the new regime are genuine.

“Everyone is fed up of talking about Rangers’ money problems, who is taking what out of the club.” (Sun)

• Writing in the Herald, Michael Grant claims that the support of key shareholders the Easdale brothers will make or break a possible return to Ibrox for Dave King.

Grant writes: “They are enormously significant, yet there has not been a word from them about the guy who wants to be their chairman and who their club is effectively approving via press releases.

“Does that mean they are okay with King?” (Herald)

• Elsewhere, the Mail’s John Greechan has called for Scotland to get back to respectability as another qualifying campaign ends in disappointment.

Greechan writes: “(Gordon) Strachan’s main job when then dash towards Euro 2016 comes around is to merely make Scotland competitive again. Get us back in a position where we’re playing for something tangible.” (Mail)