Rangers v

Aberdeen

THEY were 150 miles apart, but as Dick Advocaat and Eoin Jess yesterday attempted to distance themselves from speculation that the midfielder was poised to jump the sinking Aberdeen ship for the treasure island of Ibrox, they, in fact, succeeded only in posing more questions than they had cryptically answered.

The one certainty is this: Jess, now back in vogue after being dropped like a rag doll by Ebbe Skovdahl, will be in the spotlight this afternoon, doing all in his considerable power to lead the dithering Dons to their first goal and, more importantly, first points in what has, so far, been a thoroughly depressing campaign.

Thereafter remains a mystery, at least to those outwith the respective corridors of power.

Advocaat's very demeanour suggested there was more to the matter than he was willing to let on and the normally forthright coach was reluctant to discuss at any length the possibility of a transfer.

''I do not think so,'' he offered when the inevitable was asked. ''We are always on the lookout for good Scottish players, but he is not available. If he had been available, we would have been interested. He has two years of his contract left at Aberdeen and the boy has said himself he will stay . . . and he knows it.''

It appears impossible for Jess - even at 28 years of age - to shake off the talented-boy tag which has become a noose around his neck.

He has assured the already disillusioned supporters that he is not leaving, but did not deny that Rangers had made an inquiry.

''It's going to be a crucial 90 minutes for Aberdeen and I won't allow this speculation or anything else to affect my determination to try to finally give our fans something to cheer about,'' said Jess, who also has recently been linked with possible transfers to Hearts and Hibs.

''I know some supporters will be a little worried at seeing this story emerge, but I'm just going to shrug my shoulders and ignore it, and I suggest they do the same.

''As I've said before, I'm happy at Aberdeen. I haven't asked for a transfer, and, as far as I know, Aberdeen are not interested in letting me go.

''It is all becoming a bit irritating now because all it means is I will now have to field questions from family, friends, and fans asking if it is true.''

While Advocaat stated that the player was under contract, he is also aware that money talks. It seems Rangers did approach the club, but were perhaps put off by a transfer fee deemed unacceptable for someone who has consistently failed to realise his potential, or, at 28, maybe Jess, who had a miserable spell at Coventry the last time he left the north-east, was reluctant to put his peak years in jeopardy at a club where the guarantee of first-team football exists to no-one.

Whatever, his performance will provide an interesting aside at Ibrox, especially after Michael Mols revealed he has already been warned of the ways of the wayward Dons.

''A few of the people in the dressing room and at the club have told me Aberdeen only play four times a season,'' he said innocently. Play they most

certainly do, but results have proved hard to come by even against Rangers during their faminous years.

When they have performed, Jess has been the catalyst, but Mols is hoping to continue his scoring streak - seven goals in seven games - to increase, albeit momentarily, Rangers' advantage over Celtic, who play Kilmarnock tomorrow.

It would also make the pilgrimage of 170 members of the newly formed Utrecht Michael Mols Supporters Association worthwhile. Keen to avoid typecasting, Mols stressed he is not a goal-poacher, unlike a certain

former Rangers No.9 for whom movie stardom beckons.

''I am not a McCoist,'' he said, an observation quickly endorsed by his manager, who did, none the less, expect Mols to furnish Rangers with ''20 to 25'' goals a season in the Premier League.

''It is strange because the

supporters will now think of me as a natural striker, which I am not.

''This is the best run of goals I have had, one goal per game, so I will be happy if it stays like that throughout the season, but I also like to set goals up for other

players.''

Unfortunately for him, national coach Frank Rijkaard has con- tinued to overlook Mols, but while the player insists his two weeks of inactivity have been a bonus with the child being born, he is determined to make the final squad for next year's European Championships in his native country and Belgium.

''I haven't spoken to him, but, from what I have heard, he will bring in some new players from January to fill places 18 to 24 for his squad, so, hopefully, I will be involved, but, at the moment,

helping Rangers is the only thing on my mind.''

Just as he did before the return leg with Parma, Advocaat will jet off to watch Wednesday's Champions' League opponents Valencia play against Alavez in the Primera Liga.

He does so with the injury situation at the club at the forefront of his thoughts.

Stefan Klos will remain sidelined for ''a few weeks yet'',

giving French goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier more time to establish himself as No.1, while Rod Wallace is still struggling with the hamstring injury sustained against Parma.

Rangers' top scorer last season will miss out this afternoon, with Jonatan Johansson, back from international duty with Finland, poised to start after his matchwinning performance against Hibs, and Wallace must now be a serious injury concern ahead of Wednesday's opener in Spain.

Andrei Kanchelskis will continue his recovery from the Achilles injury that kept him out of the team until the trip to

Edinburgh two weeks ago, while Arthur Numan is reintroduced to the squad after a hamstring strain. Tony Vidmar will retain the left-back berth, however, after his impressive run of form.

Skovdahl will be minus injured midfielders Nigel Pepper and Ilian Kiriakov, as well striker Derek Young, while his latest signing, Norwegian defender Thomas Solberg, faces a fitness test on a calf muscle injury.

Jim Hamilton has been brought back into the squad after being banished to the reserves recently and former Queen of the South youngster David Lilley is also included for the first time.

BOOKIES' VIEW: Rangers 1-6, Aberdeen 16-1, draw 5-1.