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Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness has backed new signing El-Hadji Diouf to be a strong force for the Ibrox side and hopes the forward can have big part to play in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Diouf, who joined on loan from Blackburn on the transfer deadline day, made his debut for Rangers when he was brought on from the bench after 20 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Hearts.

Ness admitted he was impressed by the Senegalese’s performance and expects big things from his new team mate.

"It was difficult for him as I don't think he expected to come on so early," said the 19-year-old.

"But he showed some good touches and I think he will only get better and be a really good player for us."

Diouf, who was widely criticised for spitting at a Celtic fan in 2003, could feature in the fifth round match against the Hoops and Ness believes he has the potential to have a huge impact on the match.

He added: “[Diouf's] obviously got the quality so, if he's playing, hopefully he will be able to do something for us."

Ness is looking to secure a foothold in Walter Smith’s side himself after making his starting debut in the New Year Old Firm game. He hopes his recent performance have done enough to feature in Smith’s plans.

"Hopefully I'll be involved. I always want to play and hopefully the gaffer will think I've done enough to merit a place,” he said.

"I've trained with the first team boys regularly for almost two years so I know everyone really well and I know everyone's game well and I think that has helped me a lot."

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Labels: Celtic, clash, Diouf, hopes, Rangersapos, shine, stvtv

• Scott Brown, left, had a running battle with el Hadji diouf at Ibrox

Both players are renowned for having fuses as short as the bristles on their heads. Diouf has made it even more impossible to ignore him having this week dyed blue the narrow strip of hair on his scalp which has escaped the razor blade.

This act will do little to pacify Celtic supporters at Parkhead tomorrow, as their team prepares to host Rangers in a clash which is crucial to both club's title ambitions. These supporters have already installed Diouf as public enemy No 1 after he spat at a home supporter during a Uefa Cup quarter-final clash at Parkhead, while he was at Liverpool.

He was pursued by Brown during the Scottish Cup fifth-round clash between Rangers and Celtic a fortnight ago, before being taunted by the skipper after he had scored the equaliser in the 2-2 draw. Brown stood in front of Diouf with his arms outstretched. Celtic manager Neil Lennon later saluted both the performance and behaviour of his captain - and did so again yesterday.

Smith, however, gave a loaded response to a question which sought to divine the Rangers manager's view of Brown's actions that afternoon at Ibrox. "I'll leave other people to judge whether opposing players' actions were inflammatory or otherwise," he said, before adding that he had no fears about Diouf being caught up in the white heat of his first away match since signing on-loan from Blackburn Rovers on the last day of the transfer window.

Diouf will need to endure a much more hostile atmosphere tomorrow after enjoying a fairly comfortable introduction to Scottish football.

The four matches he has played so far have all been at Ibrox. He has mostly been unmoved by the provocation of opponents and Smith is confident Diouf can again rise above it all tomorrow, when he can expect to be baited by Brown and over 50,000 others. "I didn't speak to him a great deal before the last (Old Firm] game," said Smith. "I had a word with him, not particularly about the match. But he's an experienced enough player to know what's happened and I don't see why we should have a problem there.

"In the games he's played for us the lad hasn't done anything untoward," added Smith. "Sometimes when a player's career has been tainted by a reaction to certain situations that's the picture everybody paints of him. But we can only go by what we've seen. Everybody in an Old Firm game - and not just El Hadji Diouf - has to be aware of how their behaviour (can have an impact]."

Lennon, meanwhile, again gave solid backing to his captain's conduct and said Brown had learned there were certain lines "he cannot cross".

Labels: backs, Brown, Diouf, handle, Scotsman, Smith

By Peter Jardine
Last updated at 1:48 AM on 2nd February 2011

El Hadji Diouf last night claimed he revels in his bad-boy image - and will welcome the jeers of opposition fans.

The controversial Senegal international is set to make his Rangers debut on Werdneday against Hearts amid public outcry at his Ibrox arrival.

But Diouf, who has never been forgiven by Celtic fans for spitting at a supporter at Parkhead during the striker's Liverpool days, said: 'I know everywhere I go people are going to boo me, but I love that.

'I expect a tough time from Celtic fans. But people never boo a bad player. The more you boo me, the more I've got power and the more I'll show you who I am. I don't want people to love me, just respect me.

'A lot of things happened in the past between me and Celtic. I regret that. I was young and used to do stupid things.

'I apologise to the Celtic fans again. I joined Rangers to win the title, win a lot of trophies, and enjoy my life and enjoy the football,' he told talkSPORT.

Diouf will undoubtedly be targeted by Celtic fans during Sunday's Old Firm Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, but manager Walter Smith last night insisted he doesn't see the 30-year-old's signing on loan from Blackburn as a risk - and urged him to let his football do the talking in Glasgow.

With Nikica Jelavic a major doubt for this evening with a groin strain, Diouf should start against Hearts following a blaze of negative publicity which culminated in bookmakers William Hill taking bets on whether he will be sent off against Celtic and how many yellow and red cards he will land in Scotland.

Yet a defiant Smith said: 'I don't see him as a risk. He maybe comes with a reputation that even the player himself might want to tidy up a bit. But that has been the case with a fair number of players and we'll just have to handle that. He has to handle that, too. I am sure he will.

'You know those things happen and we take all of that into account when we try to sign a player. Then you hope it is the football he is remembered for.'

Smith was Paul Gascoigne's boss in the 1990s when the England star had a whole series of problems off the pitch and, occasionally, on the field, as well.

No stranger to controversial stars during his two spells at Rangers, including Andy Goram and Allan McGregor, Smith admitted: 'Things have happened with quite a number of players over the period.

'With all your players you just try to make sure they have an awareness of what can happen in games if they don't keep their temper. Diouf is an experienced player and he just needs to handle that and we need to help him.'

Northern Ireland international David Healy is also in contention for a debut tonight, while 20-year-old Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley will feature in Smith's squad following his arrival on loan.

Meanwhile, Hearts midfielder Ian Black says he knows exactly who will be Public Enemy No1 at Ibrox tonight - and it won't be Diouf.

The 25-year-old is readying himself for a barrage of abuse for his challenge which put ?4million star Jelavic out of action for four months.

'I'm sure when I run out I will get a "good" reception from the crowd,' Black said. 'Do I regret making the tackle on Jelavic? No, I don't. There was no intention there to go in and hurt him. There was no malice - I wasn't trying to injure him.'

Labels: booing, Daily, Diouf, forward, looking, people, Rangers, renewing