St Johnstone v Rangers

WITH 64 international caps and a place in The New York Times' 100 most important Americans for the next century, not to mention more honours in US College soccer history, Rangers' latest acquisition, Claudio Reyna, comes with a high pedigree.

Dick Advocaat managed to secure the signature of the VFL Wolfsburg midfielder from under the noses of their Bundesliga rivals 860 Munich and French side Monaco. In doing so, he has filled the void left by the injured Barry Ferguson and the shunted Charlie Miller - and for the rather modest fee of #1.2m.

Yesterday, the Dutchman was the Caat that got the cream, suggesting, in his own modest way, that he unearthed a bargain on the last day of the Scottish football sale deadline.

The 25-year-old American, who was moved on to Wolfsburg from Bayer Leverkusen, has signed a four-year deal at Ibrox, although he will not be available for selection ''until probably next week'', by which time the player's wife, Daniella, herself a former internationalist with the US women's team, will have expanded the Reyna clan.

Advocaat, who also re-signed Australian defender Craig Moore before the deadline, said the US captain was one who was highly recommended to him and added: ''We could have waited until the end of the season and got him for #1m, but with the injuries we have in the team at the moment we paid #200,000 more and signed him for now.

''I know he had some problems at Leverkusen, but he has been excellent with Wolfsburg. To get him for #1.2m is, I think, a bargain.''

Reyna played for the Americans against Rangers in Orlando during the winter break, and while Advocaat stated he was not paying much attention to the opposition during the game, he believes the central midfielder will help carry Rangers across the finish line.

The player himself said he will suit Advocaat's favoured 4-4-2 style (although the coach has reverted to just three at the back in recent weeks) and was ''very excited'' about the prospect of joining his new team-mates.

''I definitely wanted to go, but it was a matter of beating the transfer deadline,'' he said.

While Advocaat still appears upset at the 'mis-quote' which suggested he was unhappy with life, and, in particular, the weather, in Scotland, the man from New Jersey - no sunshine state itself - said he and his family will have no problem with our climate.

''It rains a lot in Scotland but we're used to that,'' he said. ''Glasgow is a beautiful city. It's great for us.''

For Moore, it seems he has never been away. He left Ibrox six months ago, despite Advocaat asking him to stay, after failing to agree a new deal with the club and joined Crystal Palace, who were willing to accept his demand of #13,000 per week, in the Nationwide first division.

While he earned plaudits for his performances, off the pitch it became obvious that the cash-strapped owner, Mark Goldberg, could not pay Rangers the #800,000 transfer fee.

Rangers could have waited and had the player return at the end of the season, but chairman David Murray wrote a cheque of #200,000 to have the player back immediately to bolster the defence, which has been minus the injured Colin Hendry since the 2-0 Scottish cup victory over Stenhousemuir in January.

Moore will go straight into the team, at the expense of Scotland under-21 internationalist Scott Wilson, who is almost certain to ask for a move soon, and the Aussie admitted it feels like he has never been away.

''It's obviously great to be back at Ibrox again,'' he said, ''but it has only been six months. There had been interest from Rangers for a month but the actual move happened quite quickly.

''I thoroughly enjoyed my spell with Crystal Palace but, taking into consideration the problems they have, I was delighted to come back, and I think that I have come back a wiser player. It is good to get experience of different situations.''

Sunday's televised match will be the fifth time the two sides have met this season, with Rangers winning all of them, including the 2-1 League Cup final victory in November.

After slipping up against Dundee United last week, Rangers' lead at the top has been shorn to nine points, but Advocaat believes the pressure is firmly on Celtic.

''In the second half against United there was only one team - us - but we were poor in attack. You do lose games, after all,'' he said. ''But if there are any nerves then it has to be from those chasing us. We can make mistakes, but if Celtic make one, maybe it is over . . .''

The bookies are in no doubt as to where the three points will be headed, but even they get it wrong, and St Johnstone midfielder Paul Kane is hoping that, after whittling the margin of defeat from 7-0 in November to 1-0 in December, Saints can record a win.

''The law of averages suggests we have to beat them at some point,'' he said, ''and we have been getting closer and closer. When you play a team so many times you learn more and more about them, so hopefully we can put all our experience to good use on Sunday.''

Once again, Saints are Kilmarnock's main contenders for the final European spot, although there is some doubt if UEFA will sanction a place for the third-placed team this season. Manager Sandy Clark is almost certainly without John O'Neil, with Allan Preston and Stuart McCluskey also doubtful.

Rangers, meanwhile, have a doubt over Scotland winger Neil McCann, who returned from international duty with a knee injury, with Colin Hendry, Barry Ferguson, Jonas Thern, and Daniel Prodan all missing. Youngsters Paul McKnight and Mark Brown will be on the bench.

BOOKIES' VIEW: St Johnstone 11-2, Rangers 8-13, draw 11-4.