Jack an Old Firm doubt, says Murty

RANGERS midfielder Ryan Jack is poised to miss Saturday’s clash with Celtic after he was stretchered off during last night’s 2-0 win over Motherwell. The former Aberdeen captain left Ibrox in a leg brace after a late challenge from Fir Park defender Cedric Kipre. Manager Graeme Murty will await the results of an X-ray but fears he will be without the 25-year-old for the trip to Parkhead. ‘He is in a bit of pain and a bit of discomfort,’ said Murty after his side bounced back from successive defeats to St Johnstone and Kilmarnock. ‘He’s in a brace at the moment and we will assess him tomorrow. ‘Looking at the manner of

the injury and his departure from the pitch, he would be a doubt for Saturday. ‘But he’s a hardy guy and if there is any chance of him being involved, he will be desperate to try to make the team.’ Goals from birthday boy Danny Wilson and Alfredo Morelos handed Rangers a much-needed boost to their morale before travelling across Glasgow to face Celtic on Saturday. ‘It was a very important result,’ said Murty. ‘It is good for us going into a big game at the weekend. ‘The boys came in from Christmas having had a day off and trained very well and were very bright. ‘I challenged them to take that spirit and identity into the game but it’s always good to get a win. ‘We will take the lessons from it but we know we are still a work in progress, at the moment. ‘Three points at this time of the season is very important for us. We are happy with that and we look forward to a big game on Saturday. ‘If we show that mentality and desire, then who knows what can happen. ‘We stood up to Motherwell and we knew what was coming and there wasn’t any petulance from us. ‘We stood up to that challenge and whatever they threw at us, and came out of it with a good result. But we need to have that mentality and desire to step up and I thought we did that.’ Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson bemoaned missed chances for his team in the first half and revealed he is in the market for two strikers when top scorer Louis Moult joins Preston next month. ‘When you get chances at Ibrox, you need to take them,’ said Robinson. ‘Louis Moult is a big miss right now. We have needed other players to step up and they haven’t done that. ‘You live and die by what you do at the top end (of the park). ‘I’m now looking for two players in January and we have targets that we are speaking to. ‘The run of results is not good enough. The form of some players has dipped since the Betfred Cup final.’ Sunderland, meanwhile, are weighing up a bid for Rangers defender James Tavernier. The 26-year-old, who joined the Ibrox club from Wigan Athletic in 2015 for £200,000, is open to a return to England, where Championship rivals Reading have also expressed interest in signing him. Black Cats manager Chris Coleman is keen to bolster his defensive options and wants a full-back who is comfortable going forward also.