'Griffith rejected Panama call to make Saints priority'
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has revealed that Victor Griffith declined a Panama call-up so the 24-year-old midfielder could get himself in the best possible condition for his club's battle to avoid relegation from the Scottish Premiership and prepare for their Scottish Cup semi-final. (The Courier), externalRead Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.
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Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Russell Martin quotes on Rangers loan spell revisited
The 39-year-old, who had a short loan spell at the club in 2018, will sign a three-year deal after agreeing terms. Martin will be officially unveiled by the club within the next 48 hours. He has been chosen over Davide Ancelotti as the preferred candidate for the role. Martin, who was on loan from Norwich, played 17 times for Rangers during the 2017/18 season. Read more: Former Rangers stars could be axed after just one year at Turkish club Russell Martin reveals he 'turned down a few jobs' before agreeing Rangers deal The club finished third in the Scottish Premiership that season and sacked manager Pedro Caixinha after just a few months in charge. Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press in 2018 about his time at Rangers, Martin said: "I don't think anything can prepare you for it. "It's huge. "You've got an idea, but it's only when you go up there that you realise how big it is. "Just walking around the streets, it's a giant of a football club with a great fan base. "For me, it was a bit wrong place, wrong time. "The club was a bit all over the place and then a change of manager, who was an interim manager anyway (Graeme Murty). "But I loved playing for a football club of that size and that support." Martin's experience of the club, albeit during a troubled time, is expected to help him in his new role. He previously admitted he didn't fully understand the scale of Rangers until he joined. His knowledge of the club and its demands are expected to stand him in good stead as he takes on the managerial position.
Press and Journal
4 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen lifts lid on mammoth 18-month season - that will continue with Euro under-21 finals this month
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen is determined to end a mammoth 18-month long season by becoming a history maker with Finland. Keskinen is set to star for his nation in the UEFA European under-21 Championship that runs in Slovakia from June 11 to 28. The 22-year-old has been recalled from the senior squad for the Euro U21 finals because the tournament has immense significant for the Finns. It is only the second time Finland have reached the Euro U21 finals, with the previous appearance in 2009. Participation in the Euros further extends Keskinen's gruelling season that began in January last year with HJK Helsinki. He enters the Euros on a high having helped Aberdeen secure Scottish Cup glory with a win against Celtic in the final. Keskinen has played 71 games without a break and admits that relentless schedule is tiring, more emotionally and physically. However, he is fired up for one last push to add international glory to his Scottish Cup winning triumph. He said: 'I knew I was going to have a long season when I didn't get sold in the January transfer window last year. 'I thought 'now I'm in Helsinki and the target is to go in the summer'. 'I have played for one-and-a-half years now but that is just professional football. 'When you have so many games you don't have that much time to think about it. 'I just had to make sure that I recovered well from the different games. 'I'll have a few days off and then I have the Euros. 'I think mentally it's even harder than physically.' Keskinen's season began in January last year when competing in the Finnish Cup. The winger had only a month off having competed in the UEFA Conference League group stages until late December. He faced Aberdeen home and away during that group stage in 2023, starting a 2-2 draw in Finland on November 30. Keskinen played 22 games for HJK Helsinki in the new Finnish season before an £860,000 transfer to Aberdeen last summer. The winger's final appearance for HJK Helsinki was when starting a 3-0 win against AC Oulu in the Veikkausliiga on July 27. His debut for Aberdeen was on August 17 when coming off the bench to score a stoppage time winner in a 1-0 League Cup win against Queen's Park. Keskinen said: 'We had a longer season with HJK Helsinki because we were in the group stages (Conference League). 'We were still playing in the group stages when all the other teams were back from their holidays. 'Helsinki came back in January, so I had some of December off.' Finland will kick-start their Euro U21 campaign with a group clash against Netherlands at the Košická Futbalová arena on June 12. They also face Ukraine and Denmark in Group D with the final match on June 18. Should Finland progress from the groups the quarter-finals are on June 21 and 22. The semi-finals are on June 25 with the final set for three days later. Aberdeen return for pre-season training in late June in preparation for a campaign with guaranteed European league action. Keskinen said: 'I'm likely to get extra time off (by Aberdeen) having been involved at the Euros. 'It depends how far we get. 'But when you play 18 months of football in a row, you don't really need a full pre-season.' Keskinen played a key role in Finland's qualification campaign in Group E for the Euro U21 finals. During that campaign the winger broke into the Finland senior squad. He made his senior debut when introduced off the bench in a 3-0 Nations League loss to Greece on September 7. His first start for Finland came three days later in a 2-0 Nations League loss to England at Wembley. Capped four times Keskinen was recalled to the under-21 squad because success in the tournament means so much to the nation. He said: 'It's only the second time in Finnish history we've had a team in the Euro under-21 finals. 'This is a really big thing for Finnish football culture. 'We have a really good team and want to go through from the group. 'My friend Jukka Raitala who was a teammate at Helsinki is 36 now. 'He was in the team the last time Finland were in the under-21 Euros, so it's been a while.'
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The six burning issues Russell Martin faces as Rangers boss including Tavernier as skipper and Butland's future
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN is on the brink of being appointed Rangers' new boss. The one-time Ibrox defender looks set to replace Philippe Clement — almost four months after the Belgian was axed and Barry Ferguson installed as caretaker. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 He is set to be named the new manager Credit: Alamy SunSport first revealed on February 24 that 29-cap ex-Scotland defender Martin was in the frame to land the job. Now we look at six burning issues the new manager will need to address as he seeks to turn around the fortunes of the team. THE GOALKEEPER This time last year, Clement claimed every player in the Rangers squad was for sale — apart from Jack Butland. It wasn't a statement which aged well. Clement was sacked in February as Gers trailed Celtic in the league. And former England No 1 Butland was guilty of several high-profile errors. After one mistake too many — in a 2-0 home defeat to Hibs in April — the 32-year-old was dropped to the bench by interim boss Fergie. Liam Kelly grabbed the gloves, only to miss the last two games of the campaign through injury. But who will start between the sticks for the first Champions League qualifier on July 22? It's a big call. THE CAPTAIN James Tavernier has won the Premiership title, Scottish Cup and Premier Sports Cup — as well as skippering Gers in a Europa League final. He's scored more than 100 goals, provided more than 100 assists, and earned a place in the Ibrox Hall of Fame after a decade of service. But he still splits the Rangers fan base and those impressive numbers took a decided dip last season as Gers toiled and Tavernier moved beyond his 33rd birthday. An untimely injury to Dujon Sterling probably means Tav will start next term at right-back — but the next boss must decide how long he can go on. Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed THE DEFENCE Leon Balogun has been released, Robin Propper looks set to be returning to FC Twente, and loan stars Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Rafa Fernandes are back at their parent clubs. It leaves John Souttar as the only recognised first-team central defender — and the Scotland ace has just one year left on his Ibrox contract. With Ridvan Yilmaz again linked with a return to former club Besiktas and Jefte yet to convince, left-back could be another area of concern for the new boss. Gers shipped way too many goals last term, just one clean sheet in their last 14 domestic games, so the backline clearly needs some repair. THE MIDFIELD Ferguson finished the last campaign with on-form Nico Raskin in the engine room, alongside Mo Diomande and Connor Barron. On the face of it, the new man in the dugout could elect to stick rather twist — as Raskin's form has swept him into the Belgium team, while Barron could make a Scotland debut over the next four days. But Everton are keen on Diomande, while that good form could attract interest in the Belgian. Given the new broom sweeping through Ibrox, the club's American owners are sure to look closely at their player trading model. Lyall Cameron is arriving from Dundee and will inject attacking impetus, so maybe this is one position where Gers have less work to do than in others. THE FLANKS Vaclav Cerny was a roaring success last term but, like Abdallah Sima 12 months earlier, he's done so well that he's moved beyond Gers' reach for a permanent deal. 2 Vaclav Cerny became a fan favourite at Ibrox Credit: Willie Vass Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence also left at the end of their deals, and Nedim Bajrami scarcely endeared himself to the Ibrox faithful. Gers have a £4.5million obligation to sign Oscar Cortes permanently from Lens, but that would account for almost a quarter of the £20m being handed over by Andrew Cavenagh. Time to look for escape loopholes. In short, Gers need pace in wide areas and the kind of penetration they lacked last term as they toiled to break down low blocks. THE GOALS Maybe the most intriguing decision of all will come in the most important position of all — No 9. Cyriel Dessers left topped the Premiership scoring charts with 18 goals, netting more in the league than Daizen Maeda, Sam Dalby and Simon Murray. Rookie Hamza Igamane impressed in flashes with 16 in all competitions, including that spectacular late winner at Celtic Park in March. But Danilo didn't do anything to justify his £4m price tag, and every new manager tends to want his own striker on the premises. Watch this space. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
