Football: Dodds' debut boost for Ibrox morale

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

TWO NEW boys, Billy Dodds and Andy Smith, are in line to make their debuts for their new clubs at Ibrox today as under-pressure Rangers entertain Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League.

The Scottish treble winners have endured a miserable week, crashing out of the Uefa Cup to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday before becoming embroiled in the Lorenzo Amoruso race row.

Amoruso's troubles have overshadowed the pounds 1.3m arrival of Dodds from Dundee United, and the Scotland striker could partner Rod Wallace in attack. The Rangers manager, Dick Advocaat, is looking for a timely morale-booster after seeing his side suffer three successive defeats, in Premier League, League Cup and Uefa Cup combat. He complained that his team is not good enough to challenge Europe's elite - but that level is a stratosphere away from the results obtained by Kilmarnock this season.

The Rugby Park club have struggled to repeat their impressive form of the last three seasons and are just three points above bottom side Aberdeen. Their manager, Bobby Williamson, has secured the services of the striker Andy Smith on loan from Dunfermline, the player electing to join Kilmarnock despite an offer to play for Hearts.

"Being out of the picture at East End Park, I never thought two Premier League clubs would come in for me. I feel lucky," said Smith. "The change will do me good and I am delighted to be given a chance by Kilmarnock. The team has played well over the last five games but maybe didn't get the results they deserve. Hopefully I can turn things around."

Hachim Zerouali could make his first start for Aberdeen in today's Pittodrie encounter with Celtic - even though he is fasting for Ramadan. The 22- year-old Moroccan striker created two goals within five minutes of being called off the substitutes' bench by the Dons manager, Ebbe Skovdahl, on Wednesday, when Aberdeen recorded their first home league win of the season with a 3-1 triumph against Hearts.

Celtic have doubts over Olivier Tebily (groin) and Lubomir Moravcik (foot). Both suffered knocks in the 4-0 defeat of Hibernian at Parkhead last weekend.