NAI SWEAT FOR GERS BATTLE
Holt: Martin could draw Jambo into web of fear on his big return to Ibrox
GARY HOLT insists the web of intrigue that will unfold at Ibrox on Saturday could become a horror movie for Hearts due to Kyle Lafferty’s arachnophobia.
The Jambos striker and team-mate Steven Naismith will return to their old stamping ground – with both players set to cop stick from Gers fans after leaving under a cloud following the club’s financial crisis.
But former Norwich No.2 Holt believes Lafferty should be far more worried about his reunion with old Carrow Road team-mate Russell Martin.
And he reckons the Ibrox new boy can strike a pre-match blow by preying on Lafferty’s fear of spiders. Holt, who worked with Lafferty, Naismith and Martin at the Canaries, said: “The Norwich connection will throw up so many interesting questions ahead of Saturday’s game and Russell will be ready to face two boys he knows well.
“All three will be desperate to do well but Kyle maybe has the most to prove going back to a ground where he knows he’ll be public enemy No.1.
“He’ll be counting the hours to kick-off and will already be thinking up ways to wind his old club up.
“When we worked together at Norwich you could never turn your back on him.
“He was always up to something whether it was on the team bus or the training ground.
“Nothing much fazes him and he was always up to mischief – but I remember he once revealed he had a fear of spiders.
“The following morning Russell came in with a few spiders and left them inside his locker – when Kyle opened it, he s*** himself.
“It was hilarious but he was frightened to death.
“I would love to spend a few minutes inside his head just to see what makes him tick.
“Kyle can be a bit stupid, he can’t wait to antagonise people.
“He’ll already be thinking about cupping his ears to the Rangers fans, he won’t care about the stick.
“Kyle’s a confidence player who lacks consistency but does it in spells. He’s going through a decent spell at the moment and on his day can be a handful for any defence.
“Russell knows him inside out and maybe he should leave a spider in the away dressing room on Saturday, that would give Rangers a head start.”
Naismith is also set for a hot reception at Ibrox after he joined Lafferty and four other players in refusing to be part of the new Charles Green regime following the club’s financial meltdown in 2012.
The Scotland star walked away and joined Everton but Holt insists the 31-year-old was keen on an Ibrox return in the last transfer window.
He ended up at Tynecastle instead and Holt said: “I’m not sure how the fans will take to Naisy making his return to Ibrox as we all know the sensitivities concerning the circumstances of how he left.
“I’m sure he’s hoping to get a good reception but I’m just not sure he’ll get his wish.
“He hasn’t spoken much about it but I do know he’d have loved to go back there during the transfer window. That was clear from the chats I had with him.
“Football supporters can be fickle and some of them will just never forgive something they regard as disloyal or a slight on their club. Naisy knows this and that’s fair enough.
“But when they see a quality player there can be a bit of forgiveness.
“They will also recall what he did for them and the club when he was a Rangers player.”
Holt counts Gers defender Martin as one of his closest friends in the game and admits his pal is still getting up to speed in Glasgow, as highlighted by a ropey display last Sunday at Hamilton.
He said: “I’ve been to a few Rangers games since Russell signed and I’ve watched a few on TV.
“I know Russell’s still getting used to the pace of the game as well as the STEVEN NAISMITH is winning his fitness battle to play in his first game at Ibrox since 2012.
The Hearts loan star, left, is back training after missing the last two matches with a hamstring strain.
Naisy’s now expected to be included in Saturday’s squad and face Rangers for the first demands of playing for such a massive club. He now realises that no matter how well you play, if you don’t win you will be slaughtered.
“The match at Hamilton was an eye-opener. It was his first pro game on a plastic pitch and he didn’t find it comfortable.
“But he’s an experienced player and when you have that experience then you tend to deal with these things better.
“Russell’s similar to Naisy in that you couldn’t find two better pros.
“The young players at both Ibrox and Tynecastle will learn from their example about how to act and how to become proper professionals.”
All eyes turn to Govan on Saturday for the Premiership’s game of the day and Holt believes Gers will continue their rich vein of form.
He said: “It will be interesting to watch all the boys on Saturday as they are all winners.
“They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses inside out.
“Russell will know the runs both Kyle and Naisy make so it’s up to the both of them to come up with something different.
“It will be a tight game but Rangers have more experience about them now and that will prove the difference. If Rangers go a goal or two up we will see how the younger ones in Hearts react to it.” time since leaving the club under a cloud when they were liquidated six years ago.
Jambos manager Craig Levein said: “It was a tight hamstring, nothing serious.”
Starlet Harry Cochrane is also set to return to the fold after suffering a neck injury in a challenge by Celtic captain Scott Brown at Parkhead last month.
Meanwhile, Levein hopes to extend Ghislain Guessan’s trial for another week after he netted in the Under-20s’ win over Dundee United.
He wants to bolster his attack with a quality stand-in for Naisy and Kyle Lafferty.