The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football news and gossip

McCoist upbeat over Lafferty’s future

Rangers manager Ally McCoist remains confident that Northern Irish striker Kyle Lafferty will extend his stay at Ibrox, despite being the victim of a suspected sectarian attack. A window on Lafferty’s Bentley was shattered at a petrol station near Glasgow last week, with the player admitting he is ‘sick of all this nonsense.’

McCoist is also hopeful that the striker will be fit for Saturday’s match against Dunfermline. (Various)

Celtic face struggle to bring striker to Parkhead

Maritimo striker Baba Diawara, a target for Celtic manager Neil Lennon, is said to be attracting interest from Spanish side Villarreal. The Senegal international held talks with Celtic during the summer, but complications over a work permit meant that a deal could not be reached.

Maritimo are unlikely to let the striker leave for less than £6 million, which could end Celtic’s interest. Diawara is currently the top scorer in Portugal with nine goals so far this season. (Express, Record)

Fenlon completes coaching team at Easter Road

Hibernian’s new manager Pat Fenlon has put the finishing touches to his coaching staff with the appointment of Billy Brown as his assistant manager. Fenlon this week relieved Gareth Evans and Alistair Stevenson of their duties, and appointed Liam O’Brien, his assistant at Bohemian, as first team coach. Brown, who was interviewed for the managerial post, has spoken of his delight at retaining his role at Easter Road. (Herald)

Sheridan faces lengthy spell on sidelines

St Johnstone striker Cillian Sheridan faces up to six weeks out following a hamstring injury. The former Celtic striker, who is on loan from CSKA Moscow, signed a deal until January, but Steve Lomas is hopeful of extending the player’s deal until the end of the season. (Herald)

In other news:

• Celtic are reportedly weighing up a move for £500,000-rated Charlton defender Michael Morrison, who Neil Lennon watched keep a clean sheet in the London club’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield on Monday night. However, Lennon played down speculation that he was casting an eye over Huddersfield’s in-form Scotland U-21 striker Jordan Rhodes. (Express)

• The Parkhead side are also hopeful of tying up midfielder Scott Brown on a new contract in the next few days. The former Hibs midfielder is out of contract next May, and is free to talk to other clubs from tomorrow. (Record)

• Kilmarnock midfielder Danny Buijs will be out for up to six weeks with a hamstring problem. The Dutchman lasted only six minutes of his side’s 1-0 win over Rangers at Rugby Park on Sunday before being replaced. The player had only recently returned from a seven-week injury lay-off. (Sun)

• Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield is in talks over a loan move to Second Division side Forfar. Langfield, who suffered a seizure in May, has found himself down the pecking order at Pittodrie and is keen to go out on loan in order to gain match practice. (Various)

• Vladimir Romanov has said that he let midfielder Paul Hartley sign for Celtic on the cheap. The Lithuanian reluctantly let Hartley move to Parkhead for £1.1 million, despite wanting £7 million for who he described at the time as ‘the best player in Britain.’ (Record)