CELTIC have made their first signing of the season on the eve of their league game with St Johnstone at Parkhead, and the man in the spotlight is Norwegian Vidar Riseth, the World Cup midfielder who plays for LASK Linz in Austria.

Despite the fact that Riseth spent the weekend insisting that he had not heard from Celtic, he was at Parkhead yesterday, has gone through a medical, and has agreed to a move that will cost the club a relatively modest #1.4m in a four-year deal.

The reason the fee is so moderate for a man who was in the Norwegian side that drew 1-1 with Scotland in France a few months ago, and has 10 caps as well as playing in all of Norway's World Cup matches in France '98, is that Riseth has a clause in his contract with Linz that permits him to leave for that transfer fee.

From the Austrian club's point of view, none the less, it is a good deal, as the player is due to end his contract at the end of this season when he could move for nothing under the Bosman ruling.

Riseth, a left sided midfield player, is highly regarded in European circles and was reputedly interesting clubs from various other countries but he is believed to have been keen to come to Britain to try his luck for a second time.

A former player with Rosenborg, the team who sold Harald Brattbakk to Celtic, the 26-year-old moved to Linz after having been sold for #90,000 by Luton Town.

However, he has since progressed to become a regular in the Norwegian international side.

He is the first player signed by Celtic's coach, Dr Jozef Venglos, but, while the Norwegian may become a real asset at Parkhead, it would be wrong to suggest that he is the kind of name the supporters are looking for to raise the profile of the club this season after the success last term.

Riseth said: ''I am aware of Celtic's history and reputation in world football and I am delighted to be coming to a club of Celtic's stature. It is always the ambition of young Norwegian players to play for a top British club.''

Venglos said: ''I am delighted we have secured the signing of Vidar, a player of international quality who can operate in a variety of midfield roles. I am certain he can fit well into our existing structure.''

Celtic managing director Fergus McCann said: ''As previously mentioned, substantial funds are available to strengthen the first-team squad, and the signing of Vidar is the first step in Jozef's plan.

''Jozef is determined to bring in only quality players who will improve Celtic, and his approach is fully backed by the board.''

Meanwhile, Celtic are in good humour after their 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday. Even so, captain Tom Boyd, who surprised many people by making his appearance after suffering a hamstring injury in the European tie with Guimaraez in Portugal on Tuesday, is cautious about overstating the performance.

''Certainly, the last two performances have been encouraging but it is too early to say if we are over the sticky spell that came before them. The manner in which the result was achieved against Rangers won't do us any harm,'' he said.

''All the boys showed how committed they were to the cause, regardless of what injuries and problems we had going into the game.

''Once they stepped over the white line they all gave their best for the team. I didn't know I was going to make it until the day of the game.

''I felt I would be OK but it wasn't until physio Brian Scott put me through my paces yesterday morning I knew I would be fit.''

Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert is due to return on Wednesday after missing the Rangers match through suspension. Coach Venglos believes he is spoiled for choice after being heartened by their display yesterday. ''I have to congratulate my players on their performance,'' he said. ''It was an open game but they still maintained their tactical discipline and that was important.''

Rangers confirmed last night that Ukrainian forward Andrei Kanchelskis has a broken bone in a wrist after falling badly after a tough tackle by Stephane Mahe during the Old Firm game.

He has a plaster on his arm and will now be re-assessed in two weeks' time.

However, it looks likely that he will now be absent for about a month, and will miss crucial games in the process, beginning with the meeting with Aberdeen tomorrow night at Pittodrie.

Rangers face a punishing schedule of three games inside a week but, if it is bad news for Kanchelskis that he misses out, Colin Hendry is a man full of anticipation.

The Scotland captain was recalled to the starting line-up against Celtic and admits he will be disappointed if he doesn't get a starting spot against Aberdeen.

Rangers follow that with a visit to Dunfermline on Saturday and then tackle Beitar Jerusalem in the second leg of the UEFA Cup next Thursday. Hendry had been on the bench in three games prior to the tie as he was suspended from the first leg in Israel.

Hendry, however, believes he did enough on Sunday to secure a place in the team for the visit to Aberdeen.

''I will be disappointed if I am not picked,'' he said. ''I felt strong and I felt quick against Celtic.

''I was happy and comfortable with my performance. I also know I can improve on it if I get a run of games. Aberdeen would be a bit of a special game for me as I was brought up not far from there.

''We have a few matches coming up in a short space of time but that is good news for me.

''I have no quarrel with a

heavy programme for I have only had two or three games this season and they have been fairly sporadic.

''I feel as though it is still pre-season because I have had so few games.''

It was Hendry's first taste of an Old Firm derby after his #4m move from Ewood Park and he savoured the occasion.