Football: Goram fit to face Greeks

ANDY GORAM has been named in the Rangers side for their match in Athens tonight after being taken off the transfer list by the manager Walter Smith. Goram, put up for sale at the end of last season, will face AEK Athens in the first leg of their European Cup preliminary-round tie.

He was listed after a disagreement over his training routine, after a season in which he played only 10 games because of injury. But Smith has been so delighted with the response from the 30- year-old Scotland international goalkeeper that he has pitched him in at the Nikos Goumas stadium after only one major pre-season match. However, the Ibrox boss has a selection problem, with the defender John Brown suffering from a back injury. With Basile Boli suspended, Smith's options would be further reduced if, as seems likely, the 32-year-old Brown is ruled out.

Confirming Goram's selection, Smith said: 'Andy will start in goal and he is off the transfer list. I don't need to talk to him about it. He knew the reasons why I did what I did but he has given me the ideal response.'

Goram has worked on his condition over the summer, going to Lilleshall while his team-mates played pre-season games in Denmark and Germany.