Aribo Old Firm boost for Rangers as Nigeria knocked out of AFCON

Rangers have been handed a boost for the upcoming Old Firm match with news Joe Aribo will be able to return in time for the fixture.

The midfielder is currently away on international duty with Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon and would have been unavailable for the game at Celtic Park next week if his side had progressed to the later rounds of the tournament.

But the 25-year-old is now clear to return to Glasgow following a last 16 defeat to Tunisia on Sunday night.

A goal just after half-time by Youseff Msakni was enough to seal a 1-0 win for the north African side and knock the ten-man Nigerians, who had Alex Owobi sent off with 30 minutes to go, out.

That means, as it stands, Alfredo Morelos, who has been recalled by Colombia, is the only player set to be missing for Giovanni van Bronckhorst on February 2 due to the World Cup qualifiers being held on the same week.

Meanwhile Celtic will be without Tom Rogic and Daizen Maeda for the top of the league clash after they were called up for Australia and Japan.

However Ange Postecoglou also has a string of injury concerns with captain Callum McGregor and top-scorer Kyogo Furuhashi among those struggling to be ready in time to face their city rivals.

McGregor is a major doubt following a facial injury picked up in their Scottish Cup win over Alloa on Saturday.

Rangers play Livingston at Ibrox and Celtic travel to Edinburgh to play Hearts when the Premiership returns on Wednesday night.

Van Bronckhorst’s men are currently four points ahead at the top of the table.