Scottish Football: Motherwell are unwell

ILLNESS and injuries have disrupted today's League programme. Hardest hit were Motherwell, where a flu virus forced their match with Celtic to be postponed.

The Lanarkshire club have 12 players under the weather, and when medical certificates were produced the Scottish League had no option but to cancel the game. It has been rescheduled for 3 April.

Eleven Aberdeen players were also struck down, but the only first-teamers were Scott Booth and Duncan Shearer, and the club will be looking for an emphatic win over struggling Falkirk.

Hearts have been hit by injuries as they prepare to face Dundee United. Joe Jordan, the Edinburgh club's manager, said: 'The situation is as bad as it has been at any time this season.' Alan Preston, Tosh McKinlay and Ally Mauchlen are missing. Another player, who is not being named, faces a late test.

United expect their Scotland Under-21 striker, Duncan Ferguson, to have recovered from groin and thigh injuries.

Rangers will again be without their goalkeeper, Andy Goram, another flu victim, against Hibs, but the Dutch winger, Pieter Huistra returns.

Hibs are without the suspended Mickey Weir and Willie Miller and have fitness doubts about Gordon Hunter and Murdo MacLeod.

Their manager, Alex Miller, still believes his side can upset the Ibrox record-breakers, insisting: 'Records are there to be broken.'

Dundee and Airdrie, saddled with relegation worries and poor disciplinary records, are in opposition. Dundee will be without Jamie McGowan, Gary McKeown and Graham Rix. Airdrie have Kenny Black and Alan Lawrence suspended after midweek dismissals.

The Partick Thistle striker, Gerry Britton, has passed a fitness test, but George Shaw is suspended from the game with St Johnstone, who are without Paul Cherry and Steve Maskrey.