Glasgow Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox in a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash next weekend.
Graeme Murty has suggested to The Glasgow Evening Times that Rangers left-back Lee Wallace probably won’t face Celtic if he doesn’t feature in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final with Falkirk.
The 30-year-old hasn’t kicked a ball for Rangers since September due to a groin injury.
Declan John has proved an admirable deputy but it remains to be seen whether he is fit enough when the Hoops visit Ibrox on March 11, after sitting out the win over St Johnstone in midweek.
Midfielder Andy Halliday deputised for both left-backs at McDiarmid Park and did a good job too, but getting Wallace, the Gers’ captain, back in time for Celtic would be a massive boost.
But Murty claims it is unlikely that he’ll face Brendan Rodgers’s side if he plays no part in tomorrow’s visit of Falkirk.
He told The Glasgow Evening Times: “If you’re looking ahead to the Celtic game then you would think he would have to feature at some stage against Falkirk with that in mind.
“He needs game time against Falkirk for sure.”
Rangers have scored 19 goals in their last five games in all competitions – all wins – and they have a genuine chance of beating Celtic with a fully-fit squad.
Rodgers’s side might have won the treble last season, but the gap isn’t as wide in terms of quality this time around and the return of Wallace could be a huge positive for the hosts at Ibrox.
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