Kirk's back as Mendes faces race.

Byline: PETER JARDINE

RANGERS face a race against time to have Pedro Mendes back in their midfield for the New Year Old Firm derby at Parkhead.

The Portuguese playmaker has already missed seven games since damaging knee ligaments in the Champions League home defeat by Unirea Urziceni. Mendes, who did not require surgery, is now walking freely again after throwing away his crutches and a knee brace, but the January 3 visit to Celtic may yet prove too soon for him. With Walter Smith's side at Hamilton Accies for a live televised Scottish Cup tie the following Sunday, New Douglas Park may be a more realistic target for the 30-year-old. Kirk Broadfoot made his comeback after eight months on the sidelines through injury in a bounce game at Murray Park yesterday but American international Maurice Edu was deemed not quite ready. Rangers have sorely missed Mendes during his absence and there are a further seven matches to be played -- six of them in the SPL -- during a packed December before the visit to Celtic Park.

Mendes scored a stunning goal last season only a fortnight after his arrival from Portsmouth in a 4-2 success and it was his deflected strike that hit the net against Unirea before he had to come off at half-time against the Romanians. Kevin Thomson has struggled to rediscover the form he showed last season and was dropped for last weekend's visit to Aberdeen.

And with Edu not yet back to full fitness after his knee operation, there's no doubt Rangers would love to have Mendes back in the fold in time for January.

The player has long-term considerations, with his eyes on the World Cup next summer. Mendes had ended a lengthy absence from the international scene to play the last two group qualifiers for Carlos Quieroz -- before the injury cost him his place for the two play-off games against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The former Spurs and Pompey player turns 31 in February and is acutely aware that next summer in South Africa represents his last real chance to be involved at the very top level of international football. Broadfoot's return yesterday against First Division Ayr United was his first game since being red-carded in the final minutes of extra-time in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic in March. The defender played for 45 minutes in a 4-0 victory over Ayr as he finally returned after a broken foot and a couple of other problems which slowed his rehabilitation. Rangers fielded a strong side, with Nacho Novo, Thomson and Kyle Lafferty all given a start in order to try to improve their match fitness.

Broadfoot was replaced by Alan Lowing at half-time, with goals from Novo and Jamie Ness having made it 2-0. Lafferty and fellow Northern Ireland international, Andrew Little, were on the mark later in the game as Rangers stepped up a gear. It is not clear yet whether Broadfoot, or Edu, could get more bounce game action next week, with the firstteam squad in Spain for three days for their final Champions League tie with Sevilla.

CAPTION(S):

Happy return: Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot puts his injury woes behind him in yesterday's 4-0 victory over Ayr in a bounce game at Murray Park