Wim Jansen, Celtic's head coach, fears that the effects of a hard night against Liverpool could endanger his side's prospects of victory at home to Aberdeen today. The 2-2 draw in the UEFA Cup last Tuesday cost Jansen the services of his midfielder Regi Blinker, who will be out for at least three weeks with a dislocated shoulder.

"We used up a lot of power in that match," said the Dutchman. "It's a mental as well as a physical thing, and the difficult part is getting their concentration back for a game like the one we have against Aberdeen.

"I think that if the players get their concentration right, the physical element is lessened, because they should be fit enough to cope. At the same time, I can't spend the week putting too much into their heads about focusing on the league match.

"There's a fine balance to be struck between restoring their concentration and cluttering up their minds. The Liverpool match was a good one and confirmed the progress we are making. We have improved from game to game in the last few weeks.

"But Aberdeen also seem to be making progress, as they showed with their 3-3 draw against Rangers at Ibrox." Jansen is able to recall Marc Rieper to central defence, the towering Dane having missed the European match because of ineligibility.

Aberdeen's Eoin Jess, injured and taken off against Rangers, has recovered, but there is a doubt over midfielder Paul Bernard. If Bernard fails a fitness test this morning, it is likely that David Rowson will move to midfield, with Russell Anderson returning to right-back.

Rangers manager Walter Smith dismissed in one word an agency report that he is interested in signing the Paris St-Germain goalkeeper Bernard Lama. "No", said Smith when asked. He does have a goalkeeping problem, with his first two choices, Andy Goram and Anttie Niemi, out of action.

But Staale Stensaas and Alex Cleland, the full-backs who missed Tuesday's UEFA Cup match in Strasbourg, are back for the visit to St Johnstone. It is Rangers' first away league match of the season.

"It's always difficult facing a promoted side for the first time, especially for the Old Firm teams," said Smith. "St Johnstone will be well up for it and they've already given Celtic two hard matches in the Coca-Cola Cup and in the league. It will be no different for us."

Guardian Service.