Celtic may pick Cadete

Scottish round-up

DAVID MCKINNEY

Celtic supporters will turn up at Celtic Park tonight hoping not only to see their side take full points from their game with Aberdeen, but also for their first look at Jorge Cadete in action.

International clearance for the Portuguese striker arrived at the Scottish Football Association on Saturday, too late for the player to be eligible to face Rangers in next Sunday's Tennents Scottish Cup semi-final but in time to give the club a huge lift as they approach another vital game.

Tommy Burns, the Celtic manager, knows his side must win if they are to maintain a title challenge to Rangers, who opened up an eight-point gap with a 4-2 victory over Raith Rovers on Saturday. Burns has included Cadete in his squad, but hinted the new man is unlikely to start. "It is important that we have brought such a player to the club even though we will use him sparingly at the moment," Burns said. "He will hopefully be able to give us a good 20 minutes or half an hour in games."

However, Cadete might still be a surprise inclusion from the start as Burns has injury worries over Jackie McNamara, Simon Donnelly, John Collins and Paul McStay, who have all missed training since being away on international duty.

Ally McCoist, who won his 50th Scottish cap against Australia last week, completed a memorable week with a hat-trick for Rangers, who demonstrated championship-winning qualities to come back at Stark's Park after trailing Raith 2-1 with seven minutes remaining.

McCoist, who had scored with an earlier penalty, struck in the 83rd and 88th minutes to effectively win the game, before Gordon Durie added the fourth from the penalty spot.

At the foot of the table Falkirk stumbled closer towards the First Division after a 2-0 home defeat by Hearts, their dismay compounded by a first- half sending-off for Andy Gray, their former Spurs midfielder.

There was joy for Stirling Albion despite a 1-0 defeat by Stenhousemuir. Other results ensured that the club, managed by Kevin Drinkell, secured promotion to the First Division.