Nikica Jelavic ruled out of Hibs clash by bug

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist has admitted he is “in limbo” as he waits to discover if Nikica Jelavic has played his last game for the club.

The Croatian striker will miss today’s SPL match against Hibs at Ibrox because of illness while speculation over his future intensifies ahead of the January transfer window closing on Tuesday night.

West Ham United have already had a bid reportedly worth £7 million for Jelavic turned down by the Scottish champions, while Russian club CSKA Moscow have also been strongly linked with the player who is valued at around £8 million by Rangers chairman Craig Whyte.

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McCoist has identified several signing targets of his own as he bids to reinforce his first-team squad, especially in the striking department where he confirmed his pursuit of a loan deal for Trabzonspor’s Polish international forward Pawel Brozek.

His preference remains for Jelavic to stay with Rangers for the rest of the season but the worst-case scenario for McCoist is that the 26-year-old is sold in the closing hours of Tuesday night, leaving him little or no time to recruit a replacement.

“At the moment, I can only tell you there was an offer rejected from West Ham on Wednesday night and nothing else has come in since then,” said McCoist. “It’s not ideal if it goes to the death, but I won’t lie to you, I think we all had a wee feeling that might be the case.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but common sense would tell you the vast majority of business done happens towards the end of the window. There is nothing I can do about that.

“It’s certainly not an ideal situation, but it’s just something I can’t affect so I’m pretty much in limbo and we need to wait and see what happens. I can’t control other people coming in with bids. So as soon as we hear anything we will inform you. If he does go, I would hope there are things I could move on quickly. I certainly have targets.”

McCoist is aware that Jelavic’s absence today will be widely greeted with a cynical view that Rangers are ensuring injury does not jeopardise his potential sale.

“I absolutely know what people will think and say about it,” he said. “But I can only tell you the facts. Nikica has not trained for two days and won’t play against Hibs due to a virus or bug. He has sickness and diarrhoea. His wife and family have had it as well, while a couple of our younger players, including Jordan McMillan, have also had it. It has been going about. Our doctor went to see Nikica at home on Wednesday evening and again this morning. He says he is definitely unwell.

“I’m not a medical man, I haven’t see Nikica myself, but my doctor says he has sickness and a bug. I absolutely value and trust his opinion. He’s not going to make anything up. Medically, Nikica is not fit to play and that’s the truth.”

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McCoist says he has “touched base” with Turkish club Trabzonspor over the possible loan deal for out-of-favour 28-year-old Brozek who is keen to find regular first-team football for the rest of the season in order to ensure his place in Poland’s squad for the Euro 2012 finals. “We are in dialogue and communication with his club but there is nothing concrete yet,” said McCoist. “He is a goalscorer and that’s what we could do with. I would be hopeful of getting something done.”

Asked if signing Brozek would be dependent on Jelavic moving on, McCoist replied: “I haven’t been told it is connected to the Jelavic deal. I’m hoping it is not, because I quite fancy the two of them working together up front. But obviously time will tell to see if a deal can be done and if Jelavic stays. Circumstances will dictate that but I have not been told that Jelavic must go for anyone to come in.

“I’ve been told it’s a possibility we can get someone in, it hasn’t been ruled out. But we obviously have to go back to Craig Whyte with the details and he will say whether it is a goer or not.”

McCoist is also keen to sign Jorge Claros but the Honduran midfielder left for home yesterday amid uncertainty over whether Rangers will be able to offer him a deal. Estonian full-back Enar Jaager is in the same position. But McCoist confirmed he will not be pursuing any interest in Dutch winger Luigi Bruins and Nigerian striker Michael Uchebo who both spent time at Murray Park this week.