Rumour Mill: Celtic | Rangers

Legia Warsaw lose their appeal with the CAS. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Celtic’s Champions League place confirmed

Celtic’s meeting with NK Maribor in the Champions League play-off round was confirmed on Monday evening as Legia Warsaw had their last appeal turned down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Polish side finally appear to have accepted defeat on the matter, stating that they never truly expected to win their case anyway, (Various)

- Celtic face a race against time to include prospective new signing Wakaso Mubarak for the clash against Maribor on Wednesday. The Hoops are expected to seal a loan deal for the Ruban Kazan wide midfielder regardless, but they face a challenge trying to force through the player’s registration before the 11pm deadline. (Evening Times)

- Derk Boerrigter has accepted a two match ban for simulation after his tumble in last Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone. He’ll now miss Celtic’s league clash against Inverness this coming weekend. The club are not expected to challenge the ruling. (The Scotsman)

- Maribor coach Zlatko Zahovic has told the Glasgow giants to expect an “epic duel” when the sides meet on Wednesday evening. The former Slovenian international has also claimed that star player Agim Ibraimi turned down a summer move to Parkhead (Daily Record)

- Former Hoops attacker Georgios Samaras looks set to sign for Malaga after flying into Spain for contract talks with the club. The Greek international is a free agent after leaving Glasgow when his contract expired at the end of last season. (The Herald)

Clyde hammering to kick start Rangers’ season

Ally McCoist hopes that Rangers 8-1 battering of Clyde in the Petrofac Training Cup will give them the impetus to kick-on in the Scottish Championship.

The favourites have performed poorly so far; surviving scares against Hibs and Falkirk while losing the opening league encounter at home to Hearts.

However, McCoist is hoping that the confidence taken from such a dominant performance will lead to an improvement from now on. (The Scotsman)

- McCoist has backed former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson and his club players to “bounce back” after the 8-1 humiliation.

He said: “It’s a sore one for Barry and for his team, but I have no doubt they will bounce back from this.” (Daily Record)

- The club are anxiously waiting to find out the full extent of Cammy Bell’s shoulder injury, sustained in Friday’s 2-0 win over Falkirk. It is feared the first choice goalkeeper could be out for three months. (The Sun)

- Rangers supporters group Union of Fans have released a statement expressing their concern at Mike Ashley’s potential involvement in the new £4 million share issue.

It read: “We would question the wisdom of approaching someone who, despite his obvious wealth, cannot significantly invest in the club without removing himself from his ownership position at Newcastle.” (The Scotsman)

Jamie MacDonald tips Jack Hamilton for bright future

Former Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald has backed Jack Hamilton to be a star for the Tynecastle club. Last season’s player of the year was impressed by what he saw from his former protégé.

“He is an excellent young talent. You could see on Sunday that he had a good maturity about him. He has a right good chance of being a top, top goalkeeper. I know him really well and I thought he was different class. If he keeps playing well he can make the jersey his own.” (The Scotsman)

- Head coach Robbie Neilson, however, still wishes to add to his goalkeeping corps. Former Motherwell stopper Lee Hollis was recruited prior to Sunday’s Edinburgh derby, but with Hamilton cup tied for the Petrofac Training Cup tie against Livingston on Wednesday, Hearts are still in need of an experienced back up. (The Telegraph)

- Winger Jamie Walker, and Hibs full-back Lewis Stevenson, will find out on Tuesday afternoon if they are to face retrospective punishment for a late flare-up between the pair in Sunday’s Edinburgh derby.

The Hibs defender appeared to aim a stamp on Walker’s ankle, which the Hearts player reacted angrily to by squaring up to his opponent. New SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan has until 3pm to fast-track a notice of complaint. (Daily Mail)

Craig Wighton too good for loan deal

Paul Hartley has done a u-turn on plans to send young striker Craig Wighton out on loan. The 17-year old scored Dundee’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Partick Thistle, and Hartley believes the player is just too good to be sent away to another club. (Daily Express)

- Dundee United’s Paul Paton has said he is happy the ink dried on his new three contract before a terrible mistake which cost his side a goal in the 6-1 defeat at Celtic on Saturday. (Daily Record)

- United have signed former Celtic youngster Scott Lochhead on a two-year deal. Current midfielder Aidan Connolly also signed a new contract. (The Courier)

- St Johnstone skipper Dave Mackay expects his sending off against Celtic to be overturned on appeal. The defender was red carded for the incident which later saw Derk Boerrigter retrospectively banned for diving. (The Herald)

- Saints manager Tommy Wright has stated the club could bring in a left-side midfielder by the end of the week, while also confirming the club’s intentions to sign a new striker. (The Courier)

News in brief

- Scottish international Robert Snodgrass could miss four Scotland World-Cup qualifiers after dislocating his knee against QPR last Saturday. (The Sun)

- East Fife supporters are to launch a fans’ takeover bid in the aftermath of chairman Lee Murray’s decision to resign over disagreements with the club’s board. (The Herald)

- Motherwell captain Keith Lasley has said the club need to use Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Inverness as a “wake up call” amid their poor start to the 2014/15 season (Evening Times)

- Falkirk defender Will Vaulks has stated his side intentions to take their post-Rangers defeat frustrations out on Dunfermline Athletic when the two side’s meet in the Petrofac Training Cup on Tuesday. (The Sun)

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SPFL YouTube highlights

Norwegian star scores first goals for celtic

- Jo Inge Berget scores first ever goal for Celtic. Watch here.

- Berget finishes off superb team move as Celtic hit 6! Watch here.

Cracking goals from Caley Thistle

- Aaron Doran finished from tight angle after great solo run. Watch here.

- Greg Tansey fires home bullet shot. Watch here.

Moments of goalkeeping madness!

- Got a favourite goalkeeping moment of madness? We’ve dug out some classic keeper calamities from the Scottish football video archive. Watch SPFL Extra here.

Premiership highlights

- Rampant Hoops hit United for six on flag day | Celtic 6-1 Dundee United | Watch extended highlights here.

- Wonderkid Wighton nets to help Dee hold Thistle | Dundee 1-1 Partick Thistle | Watch here.

- Cracking goals from Tansey & Doran spoil Ojamaa homecoming | Motherwell 0-2 Inverness CT | Watch here.

- Magennis & Obadeyi score as Killie win in Dingwall | Ross County 1-2 Kilmarnock | Watch here.

- Early MacKinnon strike seals impressive win for Accies | Hamilton 1-0 St. Johnstone | Watch here.

Rumour Mill: Celtic | Rangers | Jack Hamilton