First-hand knowledge of deadly Riordan has Broadfoot on his toes

AS A player who is making the utmost of what Scotland manager George Burley injudiciously described as "limited ability", Kirk Broadfoot might easily be envious of those perceived to possess far greater natural talent.

The big Rangers defender is likely to be confronted by such an individual in the shape of a rejuvenated Derek Riordan at Easter Road tomorrow afternoon in what could be the key individual battle of an intriguing SPL fixture.

Riordan's ability has never been questioned, but Broadfoot believes it is far too simplistic to suggest the Hibs forward merely has an instinctive capacity to score the type of stunning goal he conjured up at Hamilton last weekend.

Before his failure to settle in Edinburgh saw him return west to sign for St Mirren in 2002, Broadfoot was a team-mate of Riordan's in the Hibs youth side and says his top drawer finishing is no happy accident.

"When I was at Hibs, you couldn't get Derek off the training pitch," revealed Broadfoot. "He just wanted to shoot, shoot, shoot. It's not just about having natural ability, it is something he has worked really hard on.

"Even back then, his finishing was unbelievable. He was a year above me, but we played together in some of the youth games. He was more or less close to the first-team squad at that stage, everyone already regarded him as one of the best players at the club. It was obvious he was going to go on to bigger things."

Riordan appeared to have moved on to "bigger things" with his move to Celtic but is now trying to re-ignite his career after a generally wretched two years with the SPL champions. Broadfoot can empathise to a certain degree and believes Riordan could emerge a more effective player because of the experience.

"It's not nice sitting watching the first team play," he added. "I had a six-month spell here myself when I first came to Rangers and it does get to you a bit. You have just got to dig deep and get through it.

"Derek will probably be stronger for it. He will want to go out and prove a few guys wrong, so he can become a better player for it.

"It's not as if he stopped playing football for two years, he has been training every day and playing reserve games. You don't lose that kind of ability. He is an unbelievable player, but hopefully we can keep him quiet on Sunday.

"Hibs have got good players all round their team. Derek is just one of many players we will need to keep an eye on.

"They have got one of the best attacking line-ups in the SPL, with Steven Fletcher and Colin Nish there too. On their day, they can break down any defence. But if we can defend as a team, not just as a back four, then hopefully they won't get the service. If they do get chances, they are capable of hurting you."

Rangers, of course, have their own lethal weapon in Kris Boyd who trumped Riordan's goal of the season contender with his remarkable strike in the Co-operative Insurance Cup tie at Partick Thistle on Wednesday night.

"Boydy was the same as Derek when he was younger," said Broadfoot. "We are from the same area in Ayrshire and I remember him as a boy scoring nine goals in a game. When he wasn't playing, he was out on the park hitting balls into an empty net.

"Derek and Kris are up there as two of the best finishers in the SPL. Boydy's finish against Partick Thistle the other night was incredible and Derek has got that kind of thing in his locker too. I'd rather have either of them in my team than playing against me.

"I travel to training every day with Kris and my lugs are still ringing from him talking about his goal. If I'm going to be picky, maybe he should have hit it across the goalkeeper. Seriously, it was some finish and he does that kind of thing all the time in training.

"Any team who see his name on the opposition teamsheet are going to be frightened, because they know he is going to be there or thereabouts if the ball goes into their box. It's been hard for him when he hasn't been playing regularly, but it says a lot for his character that he has kept his head down and fought his way back in."

The mention of Boyd's name invariably brings a wry smile to the face of Rangers manager Walter Smith who is becoming resigned to the player's prolific finishing never being matched by other facets of his general play. "I don't know if he will ever change the way he plays," said Smith. "I've said many times there are aspects of his game where he lets himself down, but I don't see many players around anywhere who can finish the way he does. He is a natural goalscorer and as good a finisher as I have worked with. His goal against Partick was unbelievable."

Kenny Miller, who missed the midweek cup tie with a calf strain, will return tomorrow and Smith also has Andrius Velicka and Lee McCulloch available for selection after illness and injury respectively.

There was also encouraging news yesterday for Steven Whittaker who does not, after all, require surgery on the knee problem which has hampered him this season.

"He saw a specialist in London today," revealed Smith, "and he only needed an injection on a cyst at the back of the knee. They are hopeful that will clear up the problem."