Football: Rieper is proud to wear the hoops

The former West Ham defender Marc Rieper is a happy man after swapping life in London's East End for the East End of Glasgow. Simon Buckland reports.

The Danish defender Marc Rieper, who left West Ham for Celtic earlier this season, knows that the next two weeks could make or break his new club's season, as the championship-chasing Celts face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park today before entertaining the leaders, Rangers, on 2 January.

"I am very pleased with the way the season has gone so far and I feel we would have settled for a point behind in the league and the Coca-Cola Cup," Rieper said. "I am delighted with the quality of players around me at Celtic, it has surprised me, and I feel none would be out of place in Premiership sides in England.

"Collectively, Celtic, like Rangers and Hearts, would do well in the Premiership, though I still think Scottish football needs greater depth," the Dane added. "There needs to be at least six or seven teams challenging at the top to improve standards both domestically and in European competition."

Rieper knows his Danish team-mate Brian Laudrup remains an inspirational figure at Ibrox and a thorn in Celtic's side. "Brian would be a top star anywhere. That has already been proved beyond any doubt," he said. "He can win games virtually single-handedly and I would say any club in Europe would be proud to have him in their side."

Rieper hopes to return to the Celtic side today, as does the French defender Stephane Mahe, after missing the 5-0 defeat of Hibernian last weekend because of muscle strains.

Rangers face the one team who have beaten them in the league this season - Dundee United, who were 2-1 winners at Tannadice Park on 25 October. While the champions will be the favourites, Rangers' only domestic home defeat also came against United: a 1-0 Coca-Cola Cup quarter-final loss.

That was sealed by a magnificent Gary McSwegan volley in extra time but, since losing the final of that competition to Celtic, United have struggled to regain momentum. Rangers, who thumped championship-chasing Hearts 5- 2 last weekend, will again be without a number of key players, with Paul Gascoigne, Gordon Durie and Rino Gattuso all suspended.

The Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram and their captain, Richard Gough, are still struggling with hamstring injuries, although Jonas Thern could return to the midfield. He returned home to Sweden to deal with a family matter and was forced to withdraw from the Tynecastle game.

Hearts will be hoping to get back on track against Dunfermline. Their manager, Jim Jefferies, could recall Thomas Flogel. The Austrian striker was left on the bench against Rangers for tactical reasons.

The Republic of Ireland defender Alan Kernaghan is to stay with St Johnstone until the end of the season.

Kernaghan has swapped Manchester City's reserves for the Scottish Premier Division and is anxious to help the Perth club retain their place in the top flight. The Saints' manager, Paul Sturrock, was anxious to secure his services on a long-term basis, after Kernaghan completed a three-month loan spell last weekend in the 2-1 defeat to Dundee United.