Bougherra hopes to play in the Old Firm game at Ibrox after the SPL split

Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra says he hopes suspension does not rule him out of the final Old Firm game of the season after the SPL split.

The 25-year-old faces a one-match ban after his yellow card in the recent 2-1 win over St Mirren.

"When I found out it could be against Celtic, I couldn't believe it," Bougherra told his club website.

"I went to my house and said to my family that I could miss Celtic and they could not believe it either."

Bougherra has been absent from the two Old Firm defeats suffered by Rangers this season, including last month's Co-operative Insurance Cup final.

And he has been in superb form for Rangers since signing from Charlton for £2.5m in July last year.

"Missing the Co-operative Insurance Cup final last month was a big blow for me," he said.

"I waited for this final for a long time but, unfortunately, being injured is part of football.

"I was in the stadium with my family and it was the second time they have come to see me play against Celtic and I haven't played.

"When I saw the team after the game I was so disappointed I could not have helped them."

The Scottish Premier League has yet to announce its post-split fixtures, although the Old Firm derby is likely to be one of the first games in order to avoid a potential title decider at Ibrox.

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