Wallace targets Old Firm game for Rangers return

RANGERS full-back Lee Wallace has set his sights on a return to action in the first Old Firm clash of the season against Celtic on 18 September.

The Scotland defender has been sidelined for the last couple of weeks with a hamstring injury. Saturday’s trip to face Dundee United at Tannadice may come too soon for former Hearts player Wallace, but he is keen to play a part against Celtic in his first derby.

He told Blues News: “It has been frustrating to be out recently but these things happen. I’m working hard with the physios and I’m aiming to be back as soon as possible but I’ve just had to be a bit careful after being out for a long while last season. The Celtic game is a huge one for the club and that’s certainly one I’d look to be involved in if I can be.

“When you come to a club like this, that’s the type of match you want to take part in. It’s massive for both sides and when you win it’s just great.

“I want to be a part of it all and, although it has been tough for the manager with the bad luck we’ve had lately with injuries, I hope to be back for that one. We’re all racing to be back fit again and my personal aim is probably to return in time for the Old Firm game. I just need to work hard and get back for that.”

It also emerged that Rangers duo Kyle Hutton and John Fleck will not be joining Sheffield United on loan after the npower League One club admitted defeat in their attempts to recruit the players. Hutton and Fleck, both 20, thought they had sealed season-long moves to Bramall Lane late on transfer deadline day, with the switch confirmed by the Scottish champions.

However, the youngsters were not registered in time with the English Football League and United now concede that they will be unable to sign the Ibrox pair.

Sheffield United director Scott McCabe told the club’s website: “It has been a very frustrating time for all concerned. Everyone in the football administration team at the club has worked very hard to try and make these transfers happen, but we have had to eventually admit defeat. We had expected the transfers to go through and were surprised when we were told they had not been completed in time. The manager will now move on to other targets.”

Meanwhile, Celtic have announced that Morten Rasmussen has joined Turkish club Sivasspor on loan until the end of 2011. The Danish striker has joined the club ahead of the start of the Turkish season. Rasmussen was signed by Tony Mowbray in January 2010 and scored three goals in 13 appearances before the end of that season, six of them under Neil Lennon. But the 26-year-old fell out of favour before the start of last season and was loaned to German side Mainz and Danish outfit Aalborg.