OLD FIRM referee Dougie McDonald last night insisted he would handle the pressure of being in charge of this season's first Glasgow derby - despite the extra focus that is sure to be on him.
The 42-year-old was yesterday named by the SFA as the man to take charge of Sunday's massive game at Celtic Park, the third time he's been given the honour. McDonald's two previous Old Firm matches passed without any controversial incidents and the ref admitted he is looking for a "hat-trick".
He knows attention will be on him more than ever after a disastrous start to the season for SPL officials. However, the whistler stressed he is able to ignore all the controversy and wants the game to be remembered for the football and not refereeing decisions.
Match officials have never been under more scrutiny following a series of high-profile controversies involving the SPL's big two.
St Mirren were left furious with ref Eddie Smith over his decision to award Celtic a penalty and send off defender Will Haining at Parkhead on the opening weekend of the season. Dundee United were denied a penalty a week later after Gary Caldwell clearly tripped Roy O'Donovan inside the box.
On Saturday, Falkirk boss John Hughes was stunned when Iain Brines missed Stephen McManus using an arm in the first goal of a 3-0 victory.
And Rangers boss Walter Smith was left raging when DaMarcus Beasley had a last-minute winner at Pittodrie wrongly disallowed for offside.
However, all of this has not put off Sunday's referee.
McDonald said: "I'm delighted to get the game. It's always an honour, never a dubious honour, to work at an Old Firm match.
"I know there will be a lot of focus on me but it's always the case that the next Old Firm game is always the biggest one. It's a massive match for the players and it is for the ref and my officials as well.
"I'm certainly not fazed by the challenge. But the Old Firm game is different. There are more cameras than at any other match and more journalists passing comment on it.
"Okay, so it's not been the start to the season we were looking for as referees. But there is no extra pressure on me because of that.
"I'll be nervous on Sunday morning. The day I don't feel the nerves is the day something is wrong. You need that, I think. But that goes once the game starts.
"I've had a couple of Old Firm games and both passed by without major incident. I'm looking for my hat-trick on Sunday. My hope is we are talking about the football after the game."
McDonald insisted both teams had to help him do his job or risk our game being seen in a bad light.
He said: "The players have their part to play. I'd like this game to be a fantastic advert for Scottish football."
McDonald agreed with Hughes there should be more face-to-face meetings between referees and managers in the future.
He said: "I think it's easier to deal and understand people if you get to know them. That's why I thought the meeting last week was a good thing.
"But I'd be happy to meet the managers more often in a social environment. That does us no harm at all."
Edu Set For Debut
WALTER SMITH has confirmed that he will include Maurice Edu in his squad for Parkhead - assuming the American star arrives in Glasgow in enough time.
Edu was in the process of trying to secure a working visa from the UK Embassy in Toronto after the relevant paperwork on his work permit arrived from the UK.
All things being equal, he should be at Murray Park by Wednesday or Thursday and that will give him enough time to get ready for the Celtic game.
Smith said: "We have to wait and see if we get him over on time.
"The good thing is that he has been playing regularly and travelling around the world regularly with the US national team.
"When I first met him he came across as one of these boys who would not be fazed by a great deal. He seems quite a confident lad.
"If we can get him over in good time then I have no doubt that he would be involved on Sunday at some stage."
The other good news for Rangers is that Kyle Lafferty is winning his fitness battles to face Celtic after suffering a hamstring injury against Hearts.
Smith added: "I think he will be fit. He only just missed out on being involved at Aberdeen so after a few days on the training ground we would be hopeful of having him for this weekend."
CELTIC were dealt a severe Old Firm blow today when top scorer Scott McDonald was confirmed to have torn a muscle in his groin, The damage to the little Aussie hitman's adductor muscle now looks likely to rule him out of Sunday's meeting with Rangers at Parkhead.
And Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was rated only 50-50 to make it after having stiches inserted in the deep leg gash he suffered during the weekend win over Falkirk.
McDonald is causing most concern. The man who hit the net 31 times last season reported the injury late last week after returning from playing for Australia against South Africa in London.
He had to sit out Saturday's win. But manager Gordon Strachan hoped that, after a few day's rest, the diagnosis might show the injury was only a slight strain.
However, tests have now shown the muscle is torn. And, depending on the severity of the damage, that could sideline McDonald for four to six weeks.
If that is the case, he would also be out for the opening round of Champions League games which take place on September 16/17.
Even with the success of Shaun Maloney and Georgios Samaras for the final hour of the game against Falkirk, it would be a massive blow to Strachan if he had to plan for this first Old Firm game without the two men who combined to score 51 goals last season.
But better news is that defender Gary Caldwell - who has been out of action since damaging a thigh muscle against Dundee United 10 days ago - is well on the road recovery and looks like making it in time to line up against Rangers.
Coach Neil Lennon delivered the latest update on the condition of Celtic's walking wounded. He said: "Scott has got a wee groin tear so he could be a doubt.
"Jan has got five stitches in an ankle injury so it could be 50-50 for the weekend. We will just have to see how he is.
"Gary had a thigh problem. But with the rest over the weekend, he should be fine."
If Caldwell suffers any reaction in training this week, Glenn Loovens is set to team up once against with Stephen McManus at the heart of the defence.
But it is up front where most concern lies, and Lennon accepts the loss of McDonald and Vennegoor for such an important game would be a massive disappointment.
The £2.5m signing of Maloney from Aston Villa could not have been better timed, and Lennon is confident his former team-mate can pick up where he left off in his sensational debut at the weekend.
Maloney set up two goals for Samaras, even though they were linking up for the first time, and he said: "I think Shaun can play with most players because he is really intelligent.
"It is the typical big man/little man partnership, and Sami responded very well.
"Shaun has played with a lot of good players over the years, and he can play anywhere across the front line."
KYLE LAFFERTY is winning his fitness battle for this Sunday's Old Firm clash against Celtic at Parkhead.
The Northern Ireland forward limped off against Hearts at Ibrox 10 days ago with a minor hamstring strain.
He then missed his country's friendly against Scotland at Hampden, and Rangers' 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie last weekend.
However, the 20 year-old Lafferty has responded well to treatment at Murray Park. And Gers gaffer Walter Smith today confirmed that he expects the £3.5million signing from Burnley to be in his squad for the trip to the East End.
Assuming he makes it, Smith could deploy the towering hitman in a more central role behind a five-man midfield.
Smith said: "I think he will be fit. He only just missed out on being involved at Aberdeen at the weekend there.
"So after a few days on the training ground we would be hopeful of having him for this weekend's Celtic match."
celtic fans plan to taunt rivals Rangers on Sunday by throwing a giant beach party at this weekend’s Old Firm game.
Supporters will brandish passports, Euros and beach balls when the teams clash at Parkhead.
Rangers were dumped out of Europe by Lithuanian minnows FC Kaunas while Celtic go into the lucrative Champion’s League draw tomorrow. Celtic fans threw a similiar party at Ibrox five years ago during a 2-1 win over Rangers.
One Hoops fan said: “The passports, sun specs and travel brochures have been looked out again after the laugh we had last time.
“Guys are also trying to get theirs hands on Greater Manchester Police helmets as a little dig after all the trouble following the UEFA Cup Final.”
Dougie McDonald has been selected to referee Sunday's Old Firm showdown between SPL heavyweights Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead.
Parkhead: To host first Old Firm clash of season
McDonald will take charge of his third clash between the arch rivals.
The previous encounters were relatively free of controversy and McDonald issued seven bookings in total.
Celtic won both games, a 3-0 home triumph against Alex McLeish's struggling side in November 2005 and a 2-0 victory in September 2006 when Kenny Miller notched his first goal in the green-and-white hoops.
McDonald will be under even greater scrutiny than usual after
refereeing decisions dominated reaction to all three of the SPL's opening weekends.
Miller can handle pressure - Davies
Billy Davies expects Kenny Miller to handle the heat of his first Old Firm derby since rejoining Rangers - because of lessons learned at Derby.
Miller: Maturing as a player
The former Celtic striker, who was an unpopular signing among a large section of Rangers fans, returns to Parkhead on Sunday looking for his first goal back in blue.
Miller netted his first Celtic goal in an Old Firm clash less than two years ago before Davies signed him last August.
The former Pride Park boss revealed Miller was a vocal presence in his dressing room - a trait he feels will help him overcome the critics.
"Headaches is what he gives you as a manager, because he has got an opinion," Davies said.
"He's a very strong-minded character and he says his piece. He is a great lad to have in the dressing room because he has a go at his team-mates at the right time.
"He expects good crosses, quality passes and he expects when he doesn't do things right for other people to give him stick.
"That's what makes him such a good lad to have around because of the strong character that he is.
"He is an experienced player, he has been there before, he has handled big games, he has handled criticism. It will be another game for Kenny.
"He will expect what you expect in Old Firm matches from certain Rangers and certain Celtic fans, but that's just the situation with the Old Firm.
"He has got a lot of courage, he will go there and work his socks off and do all he can to help Rangers win the match."
Many detractors among the Rangers support claim they did not approve of his signing because he is not good enough.
But Davies believes their opposition is purely down to his decision to sign for Celtic in 2006.
"I think they won't like him because he kissed a Celtic badge in the past," said the former Rangers midfielder.
"Take away the nuts and bolts, I think that's what it may be.
"It's a Glasgow mentality - that's what you get in the green and white and the blue and white.
"But life moves on, Kenny has to look after his family, there was a fantastic opportunity for Kenny to join Rangers, it's an excellent club and sometimes you have got to do what you have got to do.
"He will have known before he joined Rangers that there will be a huge amount of pressure and criticism from certain quarters.
"What he needs now is a number of goals to set him on his way, which I am sure he will get."
While Miller's goal record for both sides of the Old Firm is not prolific - he has scored 11 times for each - Davies believes he brings other attributes.
The 28-year-old's energy and work-rate were first utilised by Rangers manager Walter Smith when he made him his first choice in a lone striker's role for Scotland.
"If you look at Kris Boyd for example, he is a magician in the box, great finisher and scores goals for fun," said Davies, who was promoting Setanta's coverage of Sunday's Parkhead clash.
"Kenny will certainly put the ball in the back of the net given the opportunity, but his out-the-box work-rate is magnificent.
"He will go away from home and work the back four, he will hunt down the defenders and put pressure on them, and sometimes that's what you need in certain games.
"Other games will be the opportunity for Boyd and other guys like that.
"It's a good mix of goalscorers, workers and target men that Rangers have."
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