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Rangers are back in Premiership action at Ibrox this weekend, with the latest Old Firm derby taking place on their home patch following the conclusion of the latest international break.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have the chance to draw level on points with their Glasgow arch-rivals at the top of the table if they can claim victory on home soil on Sunday.

Unfortunately for the Gers, they will have to make do without striker Alfredo Morelos after it was revealed that the Colombian suffered a thigh injury whilst away on international duty.

This will undoubtedly impact Van Bronckhorst’s decision-making when it comes to picking his starting XI to take on Celtic in what is a vital game for both teams.

On the chalkboard

With no Morelos available, the player to whom the Dutchman should turn as the Colombian’s replacement to lead the line on Sunday is Kemar Roofe.

Since arriving at Ibrox in 2020 from Belgian club Anderlecht, the striker has gone on to make 66 appearances for the Gers across all competitions, scoring 30 goals in the process. Despite appearing in 19 league games this term, the 29-year-old has only started seven times, showing that he has not been Van Bronckhorst’s first-choice centre-forward.

However, having found the net 12 times across all competitions, the Jamaica international – who is currently earning £26k-per-week according to Salary Sport – has shown that he can be a reliable goalscorer when given the chance to play.

Labelled by Noel Whelan as a player who could become “invaluable” for the Gers, this is surely what Roofe would be if he is able to provide an attacking threat tomorrow afternoon and fire his team to a much-needed victory.

Having been praised for his “unbelievable” goals in the past, scoring against Celtic will be a sure-fire way for the 29-year-old to show his manager that he has what it takes to be a suitable stand-in option for Morelos.

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Whether or not Van Bronckhorst picks the former Anderlecht marksman to lead the line against the Hoops, this will still be a critical game for both teams, and it have a big say in the title race depending on the result.

In other news – McLeish howler: Rangers had a nightmare on “outstanding” 362-goal “special player”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	AB de Villiers ended the day on an unbeaten 217, the highest Test score by a South African against India © AFP

If an Indian team with ambitions to world dominance found the openingday at the Sardar Patel Stadium humiliating, day two was soul-destroying, with aclassy AB de Villiers double-century and a dogged Jacques Kallis hundredunderpinning a relentless South African charge to victory. By the time therain came down to wash away Indian tears, they had rampaged to 494 for 7,with de Villiers still going strong on 217, the highest score by a SouthAfrican against India.In the 77.2 overs bowled in the day, India managed just three wickets, twoof them when the batsmen were in the quest for quick runs after tea. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh picked up one apiece, with Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel trapped leg before, but by then the only question being posed was just how imposingthe lead would be.de Villiers needed just 146 balls for his second hundred, and played somestupendous strokes in the final session. A huge six off Harbhajan landedon the roof at what is a massive venue, and when he was later gifted afull toss that he creamed through cover, the celebrations could begin.That stroke also brought up the 400-run lead, and de Villiers put the sealon an impressive day’s work with a mighty heave off Kumble that soaredinto the empty stand at deep midwicket. As a weary Indian side trudgedoff, a defeat of mammoth proportions beckoned unless they could bat with agreat deal more application at the second time of asking.Kumble and his men could reflect on opportunities that came their wayearly in the proceedings. Harbhajan, the pick of the bowlers, wasdesperately unlucky against both batsmen. Kallis had made just 61 when hefended one awkwardly off the glove, only to see it roll back and strikethe stumps. The bails stayed on, Harbhajan held his head, and the chancehad gone. In his very next over, an offbreak went right through deVilliers, missing the stumps by a whisker.Irfan Pathan was insipid with the old ball, and Kumble soon replaced himat the other end, but the runs slowly started to mount as the pitch showedfew signs of menace. de Villiers cut Harbhajan for four, and Kumble wasthen far from thrilled as a Kallis cover-drive was fumbled over the ropeby Sourav Ganguly.Despite slightly overcast conditions, Kumble didn’t call on Sreesanth. Bythe time the new ball was taken after 81.2 overs, whatever little moisturethat might have been in the pitch was long gone. Sreesanth soon made animpact too, striking Kallis on the shoulder with a bouncer and then havingan excellent leg-before shout turned down.Once the initial threat posed by the new ball passed, the runs camefreely. de Villiers flicked RP Singh for four and then glanced Sreesanthfine, before Kallis highlighted his power with two contemptuous pulls forfour. On the stroke of lunch, Ganguly came on, and a paddle down to fineleg saw de Villiers reach his fifth Test century.Kallis was on 97 at the time, and the 30th century that took him past SirDonald Bradman arrived soon after the interval, with a magnificentcover-drive for four off Ganguly. It had been a stolid and at timesfortuitous effort, spanning 228 balls, but vital in the context of thematch after Harbhajan’s three quick wickets on the first afternoon.The 200-run partnership came from 401 balls, and the runs were milked withease after that. Pathan was pedestrian at best and Kumble merelyrestrictive. Both men played the sweep with increasing confidence and itwas quite bizarre that Sreesanth, the most effective Indian pace bowler onview, was called on only an hour and ten minutes after lunch.Kallis swatted the first ball for four, and when an edge then streakedpast slip, Sreesanth’s frustration boiled over. But instead ofself-destructing, he used the anger to produce a gem of a delivery thatlifted from outside off stump and caught Kallis in two minds. By the timehe tried to arc the bat away, it was too late and the inside edge cannonedinto the stumps. He had batted six hours, and the partnership of 256 wasSouth Africa’s highest against India, surpassing the 236 that GaryKirsten, currently India’s coach, and Andrew Hudson added at the EdenGardens in 1996-97.A sparse crowd watched it all with a mixture of frustration and reluctantadmiration, and there was something forlorn about the few Indian flagsbeing waved in the stands on a day when dreams of global conquestevaporated in egg-frying heat.

Ben Edmondson, the Western Australia fast bowler, will play for Gloucestershire for two months to replace fellow Australian Marcus North.Gloucestershire had hoped to secure Umar Gul for 2007, but the Pakistan Cricket Board failed to give them their permission. Edmondson had a prolific season in 2006-07 with 41 Pura Cup wickets and will be available to Gloucestershire from June 15.”I played against Ben in Western Australia with the England Academy squad and was thoroughly impressed,” Jon Lewis, the Gloucestershire captain, said. “He has the ability to swing the old and new ball at good pace and will be an exciting addition to our squad.”

Barmy boast: “We are a bit more street-wise than the average Aussie fan” © Getty Images

Sneaky England supporters plan to raid Cricket Australia’s family-orientated Ashes ticket system when seats go on sale on Thursday morning. Organisers of the Barmy Army expect to have 15,000 people supporting Andrew Flintoff and Co on the first day of the SCG Test, according to Sydney’s .”We are a bit more street-wise than the average Aussie fan,” the Barmy Army’s Craig Gills told the paper. “We have done this before on many campaigns, in Europe and World Cups etc. Whether by hook or by crook, we will get the tickets.”Cricket Australia expects a small amount of “leakage” to overseas buyers, but their Australia Cricket Family registration method was designed so parents and their children could get seats. More than 128,000 people signed on for the project and they must provide an Australian address as proof of their residency.The reported tens of thousands of England supporters had joined the family and others were expected to on-sell the tickets to the Barmy Army. Seats go on general release from June 19, with Cricket Australia-registered buyers given a two-week headstart from 9am eastern standard time on Thursday.In the the paper revealed that England fans complaining about the lack of access to Australia grounds for next summer were getting a better deal than their counterparts in 2005. The paper said Lord’s made 3.5% of its seats available to Australians while Old Trafford was 2%, Edgbaston 3% and The Oval 0%. The SCG and MCG are expected to have at least 10% of tickets going to England supporters.”People need to know they’ve got to get in early,” Peter Young, a Cricket Australia spokesman, said in the . “If Sydney people wait until Thursday afternoon there is a significant risk of disappointment. There’s a strong sense that days one, two and three are going to sell very quickly.”

Scorecard

Faisal Iqbal hit 85 not out to lead his team to a six-wicket win © Getty Images

Pakistan A continued their dominance over Zimbabwe A, as they won the first of the three-match one-day series by six wickets at the Mutare Sports club. Chasing a target of 256, Faisal Iqbal, who has played 10 Tests for Pakistan, struck an unbeaten 85 off 83 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes, to take his team to a 1-0 lead. Pakistan A was given a good start from their openers – Kamran Sajid (47) and Ashar Zaidi (37) – before Anthony Ireland, the medium pacer, reduced Pakistan to 95 for 4. Iqbal along with Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, stitched a 164-run partnership to end Zimbabwe’s hopes of a win. Misbah’s 63 included two fours and two sixes. Ireland ended with figures of 3 for 47.Earlier, after winning the toss, Zimbabwe posted a decent total on the board, with Stuart Carlisle, the captain, top scoring with 92. The 18-year-old left-hander, Sean Williams, was the other top-scorer with 39. Mansoor Amjad, the performer of the two-match four-day Tests which Pakistan won 2-0, and Ashar Zaidi scalped three wickets apiece.The second one-dayer is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue.

Apathy among the public is the single greatest threat to cricket’s future in England, according to a survey conducted by a new sports lobbying group, The Sports Nexus. More than 2500 people were plucked at random from the streets of England and asked a variety of questions, many of which provided worrying responses.Of the respondants, 55% answered “Don’t know” when asked whether the structure of county cricket helped to create a competitive national side. Meanwhile 43% "didn’t care at all" about the fortunes of England’s Test team over the past decade. On a slightly more positive note, only 22% argued that cricket was no longer a major national sport in England and “will continue to decline”.The findings were revealed by The Sport Nexus at a breakfast seminar on cricket at London’s Savoy Hotel earlier this week, and among the more outspoken attendants was Michael Atherton, who is at the vanguard of cricket’s modernisation drive, in his dealings with the Cricket Reform Group.”The England & Wales Cricket Board realise the need for serious change," said Atherton, "and I think there’s a widespread belief that English cricket is at a crossroads. We can either meander along as things are or do something about it. Change must happen to get English cricket back to where it belongs.”Des Wilson, the ECB’s marketing chief – the man whose 17-page document recently outlined England’s stance on Zimbabwe – was quick to defend his organisation. “Things are not quite as bad as painted," he insisted, "and the ECB is at the forefront of change. I think people accept that we are not quite the bunch of old fuddy-duddies that we are sometimes made out to be.””It’s a myth to say cricket cannot change," added Wilson. “In fact it has changed more than any other sport.” He cited the example of the Twenty20 Cup, which was launched last year by the ECB despite serious reservations among several pundits and players alike. But it proved to be a resounding success, and has the ability to create a fresh interest in the game.

SYDNEY, Jan 5 AAP – Australia needs to break a record that has stood for more than a century if it is to beat England in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.By lunch on day four, England batsmen Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain had taken full advantage of Australia’s depleted bowling attack, leading their side to a 312-run lead with a record partnership of 189.At the break, the tourists were 3-313 with Vaughan unbeaten on 166.Australia took the new ball after 82 overs and finally struck four overs later when paceman Brett Lee had Hussain caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for 72 on the last delivery before the lunch break.The highest winning Ashes score at the SCG was Australia’s 4-276 to beat England by six wickets in 1898.Vaughan, who yesterday became only the seventh tourist to score three tons in an Australian summer after overcoming a duck in the first innings, resumed on 113 and hit 26 fours and a six on the way to his score.Hussain, who scored a handy 75 and shared England’s previous best third wicket stand against Australia at the SCG of 166 with Mark Butcher in the first innings, hit nine fours in his second knock.

Australia skipper Steve Waugh is aiming to shrug off two disappointing results against English county sides when they take on high-flying Pakistan in the second NatWest Series match at Cardiff tomorrow.Pakistan are full of confidence after winning the Second Test against England and then soundly thrashing them in the opening encounter of the series at Edgbaston on Thursday.Meanwhile Australia, in their two one-day games this week, have lost to Middlesex and were held to a tie by Northants.Waugh knows his side must improve on those performances if they are to win tomorrow. “Pakistan are a very good side who have some exceptional players and have got their confidence back,” he said.”They have two very good, young all-rounders in Abdur Razzaq and AzharMahmood. But they have some experienced players who have done well in one-daycricket.”When Pakistan’s confidence is high they can do anything. But we have apretty good record against them recently and we believe we can do well again.”Waugh admits that Australia sometimes struggle in the early games in tournaments, most notably in the last World Cup in England when they started so slowly that they needed to win all their last seven games to lift the trophy. And, of course, it was Pakistan who they beat in the final.”We did not plan on peaking half-way through the World Cup,” he said. “Wewanted to win our first game, but if we have a weakness it is not playing wellin the early games.”But we have played 12 months of cricket and we had to have some time off(before arriving in England this year).”The down side of that is that when you have that time off you are not quiteon your game.”It is no one’s fault – it is just the way modern cricket is played. Thereare not many lead-up games, but you have to have a break when you get thechance.”While Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis is aiming to field the same side which beat England, Waugh is uncertain of his starting line-up.Ricky Ponting did not play at Northampton because of a minor hip problem while pace bowler Nathan Bracken was rested after sustaining a shoulder injury.And seam bowler Damien Fleming limped off after bowling only four overs at Northampton. Waugh said: “We still have a couple of guys we are testing. There may be one or two unavailable.”Meanwhile, Pakistan decided not to hold the conventional practice session the day before a big match and rested instead. It was a policy they tried before the Second Test against England when they took the day off and went to the seaside resort of Blackpool – and, judging by the match result, it was a policy which served them well.Teams:Australia (from): A Gilchrist (wkt), D Martyn, M Waugh, R Ponting, S Waugh(captain), M Bevan, M Hayden, I Harvey, S Warne, J Gillespie, G McGrath, NBracken.Pakistan: Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Abdur Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, YousufYouhana, Azhar Mahmood, Younis Khan, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif (wkt), WaqarYounis (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq.Umpires: A Whitehead (Eng) and P Willey (Eng).Third Umpire: R Julian (Eng).Match referee: B Hastings (Nzl).

While Leeds United may not have had much representation in Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad for the recent international break, one academy starlet did leave a big impression while on duty for the Three Lions: Sam Greenwood.

The 20-year-old opened his account for the U20s on Tuesday night, kicking off the scoring in a 3-1 victory over Germany with a very well executed-finish.

Greenwood of course was thrown straight into the deep end by Jesse Marsch just prior to the international break, having to come on to replace an injured Patrick Bamford mid-way through the first-half.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for The Yorkshire Evening Post, Graham Smyth gave him an impressive seven, saying: “Worked hard. Struggled to make an impact at times against vastly experienced defenders but did enough.”

With The Athletic revealing that Bamford is set to be out for a minimum of six weeks and faces a race against time to be fit for Leeds’ remaining Premier League games this season, the onus will be on the likes of Greenwood to somehow fill those massive shoes.

While Joe Gelhardt represents the more senior option out of the two, even despite ‘Joffy’ himself being a year younger at 19, Greenwood could provide that X-factor that opposition teams may not be aware about.

In his debut season campaign at Elland Road last season, Greenwood bagged 12 goals in just 18 games, playing in a number of different roles, including up front, behind the striker and further back as a central midfielder.

And, he’s got a big fan in former Leeds ace Noel Whelan, who said: “(He’s) another player who possesses an immense amount of ability. To have a weapon like that in your side is great. You can see the ability he has but the free-kicks are about the hard work he puts in on the training ground and for that he deserves to be praised.”

The Whites have crucially given themselves a bit of breathing space to the sides below them in the Premier League table thanks to a couple of crucial victories over the likes of Wolves and Norwich, so the pressure on a young striker like Greenwood to fire on all cylinders right away has lessened considerably.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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That weight being lifted off his shoulders a touch could spark the former Arsenal starlet into life, and get Elland Road rocking with a couple of lively performances.

AND in other news – “We’re told…”: Graham Smyth drops big Leeds United update which will delight supporters

	Pakistan had to wait 16 years for their first title, in 2000 © AFP

1984
The first edition of the Asia Cup, called the Rothmans Asia Cup and conceived in 1983 with the creation of the Asian Cricket Council, was held in Sharjah, then home to the council. The tournament was a round-robin tournament; India won the title on the back of a ten-wicket win over minnows Sri Lanka and a 54-run win over archrivals Pakistan. Wicketkeeper-batsman Surinder Khanna scored fifties in both low-scoring games and emerged as the unexpected star by taking the Man-of-the-Series award. Sri Lanka came in second while Pakistan lost both their matches.1986
Now termed the John Player Gold Leaf Trophy, the second edition was held in Sri Lanka, the first such multi-nation tournament to be held there. The defending champions were not present, however, owing to a controversial series against the hosts the year before – one during which the umpires allegedly made incorrect decisions in favour off Sri Lanka – and so Bangladesh entered as the third team. Sri Lanka proceeded to lift the trophy with a five-wicket win over Pakistan after losing their first match to the same opponents. Arjuna Ranatunga was named Man of the Series.1988
Bangladesh hosted the Wills Asia Cup but failed to win any of its three games. Sri Lanka cruised into the final with three wins in a row but were brushed aside by India, thanks to Man-of-the-Series Navjot Sidhu’s rapid 76. Sidhu’s six-hitting exploits – he scored 50* and 50 going into the final – were a continuation from his form in the World Cup the previous year.1990-91
India hosted the fourth edition and won it for the third time, defeating Sri Lanka in the final in Calcutta. Pakistan had pulled out of the tournament, which helped India’s cause. Bangladesh again failed to click and were downed by another Sidhu hundred and a clinical Sri Lankan outfit. Four wickets from Kapil Dev restricted Sri Lanka to 204 in the final, and a powerful middle order knocked off the runs in 42.1 overs.1995
With the 1993 tournament cancelled due to political tensions, the official fifth edition returned to Sharjah after 11 years. India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were tied on points after the preliminary round but the former two teams went in by virtue of a better run rate. For the third successive time India defeated Sri Lanka in the final. Led by a magnificent third-wicket stand of 175 off 184 balls by Sidhu and Mohammad Azharuddin, India cruised to an eight -wicket victory. This win took India’s overall win tally to four, the most for the Asia Cup.

	Marvan Attapattu poses with the trophy after beating India in the 2004 final in Colombo © AFP

1997
Sri Lanka lifted the 1997 Pepsi Asia Cup by defeating India by eight wickets at home. Sri Lanka, having lifted the World Cup the year before, were a force to be reckoned with. The world champions made use of a slow surface to defeat Pakistan by 15 runs in the tournament opener, brushed aside India thanks to a brilliant Ranatunga century, and demolished Bangladesh courtesy Sanath Jayasuriya’s 83-ball 108. Ranatunga and Jayasuriya starred in the final in Colombo as well, a triumph that followed their success in the Singer Akai Cup and Independence Cup in India earlier in the year.2000
Pakistan remained unbeaten all tournament and rightfully lifted the title for the first time. Bangladesh lost all their matches and India only beat the hosts. Pakistan were well-rounded; Bangladesh were thumped by 223 runs, Yousuf Youhana and Abdul Razzaq combined to down India by 44 runs, and Sri Lanka were beaten by seven wickets, with Youhana again the star. Come the final, at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium, and another all-round effort under lights earned Pakistan a 39-run win.2004
Sri Lanka shrugged off an indifferent season with a 25-run win over India in Colombo in the finals, after losing just one match all tournament. Hong Kong and the UAE also participated but did little of note; Bangladesh beat Hong Kong by 116 runs to open up their account in the tournament history. Pakistan began well only to crash out due to an error in net run rate calculation and India came through despite a couple sluggish displays. But Sri Lanka once again proved dominant at home, defending a total of 228 with some tigerish fielding and top-class spin bowling from Jayasuriya and Upul Chandana.2008
The tournament where Ajantha Mendis and his befuddling brand of spin announced itself. His 6 for 13 bamboozled India in the final after Virender Sehwag had jump-started the chase with a boundary-filled blast. Mendis was named Man of the Match, though there had been another equally remarkable performance in the final – a 39-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya bludgeoning 125 off 114 after the rest of the top order folded. Most matches of the tournament featured dead pitches in Karachi, where the summer heat and a series of mismatches kept the crowds away.2010
A series where the conditions hugely favoured the team batting first. India pulled off a nail-biter against Pakistan, and Shahid Afridi nearly orchestrated a heist against Sri Lanka, but in general, once the floodlights came on in Dambulla, the ball jagged around copiously making it a win-toss-and-bat tournament. India’s quicks benefitted from having to bowl second in the final, and led by Ashish Nehra, they dismantled Sri Lanka to lift the trophy for the fifth time, and the first time since 1994-95. While the previous two editions had included smaller teams like Hong Kong and the UAE, this year only the four Test-playing Asian nations were involved.