Bernard set for debut at Aberdeen

Scottish football

Scottish football

Paul Bernard yesterday completed his pounds 1m move from Oldham to Aberdeen and went straight into the squad for today's Scottish Premier Division match against Raith.

Aberdeen's manager, Roy Aitken, refused to reveal the exact sum paid for the 22-year-old Scotland midfielder, but it is the first time Aberdeen have signed a player for a seven-figure fee. "This is only the start of things. I am still looking for players who can improve the squad," Aitken said.

Celtic, leading the league by one point from Rangers, are buoyant for the second Old Firm derby of the season today and hopeful of securing the psychological edge a victory would give them. "It is a long time since we have gone into an Old Firm game in recent years leading Rangers in the table," Tommy Burns, Celtic's manager, said.

Burns is set to recall midfielder Phil O'Donnell after a three-week absence through injury to replace Peter Grant, who is banned after last week's red card at Hearts. But it looks unlikely that John Collins, last season's top goal scorer for Celtic, will feature although he was named in a 15- man squad by Burns.

Rangers will be without the injured Brian Laudrup and David Robertson but Alan McLaren and Oleg Salenko are back in the line-up.