CELTIC'S hopes of winning the second Old Firm game of the season at Ibrox on Saturday have increased with Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras both scoring against Falkirk of Sunday.

The pair had been struggling badly to hit the target in recent weeks.

McDonald had gone eight games without finding the net and Samaras six until the 3-0 triumph at Westfield. Having finished last season as top scorer as Celtic won the league title, Scott has found it difficult this time around.

He has discovered that you have to produce your best in every game, season after season, with the Hoops.

Now he has scored again, though, I would expect normal service to be resumed.

There is no doubt in my mind that he can handle the pressure of the Old Firm game. After all, he scored two great goals in the 3-2 triumph over Rangers at Parkhead at the tail end of last season.

But now he has another challenge...to show he can score against the Gers at Ibrox. I am sure it is one that will whet his appetite. Psychologically, he will be in good shape after his late effort against the Bairns.

Samaras had been scoring for fun earlier this season, but his injury came at the worst possible time.

However, he scored an important goal to put Gordon Strachan's side in front at the weekend and he is another who will be in high spirits travelling across the city this weekend.

Having said that, I would like to see the big Greek get a bit more physical than he has been in Scotland so far. He needs to use his height and size to bully defenders more, especially in the Old Firm fixture.

Somebody else with a point to prove in this game is Shunsuke Nakamura. The Japanese playmaker was immense for the Hoops in the last game against the Gers last season.

In the game before that, of course, he scored a wonderful long-range effort in a 2-1 victory at home.

But both of those games were at Celtic Park. Shunsuke has just never done it for me at Ibrox. He has never taken a game there by the scruff of the neck and dominated it in the way I would like.

But he has to play this game because Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney are out of action. Celtic desperately need somebody with a creative spark to unlock the Rangers defence and create chances for McDonald and Samaras.

With Barry Robson also doubtful due to injury, there is a real shortage of midfielders at Gordon's disposal.

Despite his impressive showing against John Hughes's side on Sunday, I don't think Koki Mizuno will be involved either. He has shown he has great potential. But I'm not sure he'll be ready If, as looks pretty certain, Naka returns to his homeland in the summer then it would be a real shame if he has never shown what he is capable of at Ibrox.

There could be no better time for him to come into his own and perform. Sorry seems to be hardest word for Aid

AIDEN McGEADY shows no sign of backing down in his disagreement with Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and has now gone to the players' union to fight his case.

If he is unhappy with the fine and the suspension he was given following his bust-up with the boss after the 1-1 draw with Hearts then he is quite entitled to do that.

But I am afraid if he is unwilling to accept he was in the wrong, apologise and move on, then there is only going to be one winner.

And, it is not going to be Aiden.

The manager has taken a stance over this issue and the club has backed him to the hilt. The fact he has ruled the Scottish Player of the Year out of the Old Firm game with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday shows how serious he is about it.

McGeady would be well advised to back down because, in my opinion, he is not ready to move on to a higher level in the Barclays Premier League. He needs another two of seasons at Celtic, at least.

A few of our most promising young players have gone down to England too soon in their development and have struggled. Shaun Maloney, who found it tough at Aston Villa, is the perfect example.

I believe the manager has been quite strict with Aiden as he tries to improve him as a player. I live in hope, though, that he will change his mind and try to resurrect his Celtic career. Pal Gary deserved time to be class act

I WAS dismayed to see that my old Scotland captain Gary McAllister had parted company with Leeds United at the weekend after a poor run of results.

His chairman at Elland Road, former Chelsea supremo Ken Bates, is quite a high-profile figure and I think he likes to be seen to be acting when everything is not going according to plan.

But I think it was pretty ludicrous to dispense with the services of such a promising coach after such a short spell in charge.

He was only at the helm for a total of 11 months - hardly any time to make a real impact.

It is crazy as the Yorkshire club still has a good chance of reaching the League One play-offs.

And I agree with every word that former Celtic and current Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill said when he accused clubs of not giving young managers the important time they need to prove themselves.

Blackburn Rovers, too, were a bit hasty in getting rid of Paul Ince.

The former Manchester United and England midfielder moved to the Lancashire club after impressing in a stint in charge of MK Dons.

Seriously, Gary, who has also managed Coventry, has all the attributes that he needs to be a big success in the dugout and I have no doubt that he will bounce back from this setback and get another job somewhere soon.

He has been through far tougher things than this in his life and I am sure he will dust himself down from this and return to football management sooner rather than later - and better.