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James Tavernier picked up an injury as Rangers dropped points at Fir Park Rangers captain James Tavernier has been ruled out of Thursday's Old Firm derby with an injury that will keep the right-back on the sidelines for "a few weeks". The 33-year-old will miss the visit of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic after scan results showed "clear damage" picked up during the 2-2 draw with Motherwell. With Scotland centre-half John Souttar and versatile defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo also still missing, it leaves manager Philippe Clement praying that 36-year-old Leon Balogun will return from his latest injury in time. "James has picked up an injury, " the Belgian said. "We took a scan and there is clear damage and he will be out for a few weeks. "It's a blow and we have had a few blows in that way the last weeks, the last months. There is a small chance Leon Balogun can return. We will see after his individual work. " Rangers need a victory to retain any hope of overhauling reigning champions who head across Glasgow 14 points ahead of their city rivals after two 4-0 wins over Motherwell and St Johnstone. Clement, who has yet to beat Celtic in six attempts as Rangers manager, admitted "we need to find solutions now" after their defeat by St Mirren and draw with Motherwell. "The last two games we lost goals a little bit out of nothing, not with really clear mistakes or being out of structure, totally not, " he insisted. "But in these last two games every time that they have had a shot on goal, it's almost a goal. Those are the things that sometimes happen in football, but normally not two games in a row. " Rodgers dismisses Old Firm 'dead rubber' suggestion 'Rangers quartet face January exit' - gossip Watch the 20 best Scottish Premiership goals of 2024 This video can not be played No psychological barrier v Celtic - Clement Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his side will "not soften up" because of the points gap and dismissed suggestions of it being "a dead rubber". "We will always assume the pressure, " the Northern Irishman said. "We put ourselves under pressure in every game to win and to win well. So nothing changes in this aspect. "I went there last season, the first game, under pressure. Now I go there with 14 points, but there's no change for us. That pressure will always be there and especially a game at Ibrox with no supporters. " Rodgers was not reading much into the recent Premier Sports Cup final, where Rangers considered themselves unfortunate to lose to Celtic on penalties after a 3-3 draw. "We won the game, " he said. They defended well in terms of how they wanted to press at times, but my biggest view of the game was our first half we were not clean enough in our work. "It was more our positioning and not playing forward in the positions we wanted to. " After growing up in a Celtic-supporting family in Country Antrim, Rodgers knows how much the fixture means to supporters regardless of the context of the league table. He has generally won Old Firm derbies, 16 in total, and suffered only one defeat in 20. "I understand the game - I understood it as a supporter - and I understood it from the first game I had as manager in September 2016, " he said. "I've enjoyed every single one of them. "I love the occasion, I love the game - it's an iconic game and one that I always want to win. " With Tavernier joining Souttar and Kasanwirjo, Balogun will return to Rangers' central defence should the veteran recover in time, with Dujon Sterling moving over to cover at right-back. Otherwise, 20-year-old Leon King may be handed a rare start. Celtic, meanwhile, have a clean bill of health apart from missing Scotland winger James Forrest through injury. Celtic are unbeaten in 18 games since losing 7-1 away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Rangers have only won one of their latest five outings. Rangers have only beaten Celtic once in 14 meetings - a 3-0 league victory in May 2023 under Michael Beale after their rivals had already secured the league title. That match is the only time in nine derbies when Celtic have not scored the opening goal. Brendan Rodgers has only lost one of 20 Old Firm derbies over two spells as Celtic manager. Philippe Clement has lost four and drawn two of his derbies as Rangers manager, the longest spell without a win for either side since William Wilton failed to win his first eight as Ibrox boss from 1890 to 1893. Rangers absentee James Tavernier and Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi both have six goals in league Old Firm derbies. Since the Premiership began in 2013, only Odsonne Édouard (with seven for Celtic) has netted more times in this fixture. Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has scored three goals in his last five appearances against Rangers in all competitions. Last Updated 30th December 2024 at 09: 30 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Scottish Premiership All competitions All competitions All competitions Rangers have enjoyed only one win in their last 14 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D4 L9), a 3-0 league victory in May 2023 under Michael Beale. After losing all four of their away games against Rangers in all competitions in 2021, Celtic have since lost just one of five away Old Firm derbies (W2 D2). Celtic have scored the opening goal in nine of the last 10 league Old Firm derbies, the only exception coming when Rangers did so in May 2023 (3-0 win). The side going 1-0 up lost none of those 10 fixtures (W7 D3), with the last to do so in the Scottish Premiership being Rangers in April 2022. Celtic have only lost their opening league game of a calendar year in one of the last 27 years (W20 D6), although that was away at Rangers in 2021 (1-0). Rangers have only lost their first league game of a calendar year in one of the last 13 years (W10 D2), a 1-2 defeat to Kilmarnock in 2019. Rangers’ James Tavernier and Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi both have six goals in league Old Firm derbies. Since the Scottish Premiership began in 2013, only Odsonne Édouard (7) has netted more times in this fixture in the division. Rangers boss Philippe Clement is yet to beat Celtic in six attempts in all competitions in charge of the club (D2 L4); the only manager to go as long or longer before winning an Old Firm derby (for either side) is William Wilton with the Gers from 1890 to 1893 (first 8). Celtic’s Daizen Maeda has scored three goals in his last five appearances against Rangers in all competitions, this after only netting once in his first 12 Old Firm derby appearances prior. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.