By Alasdair Lamont

The start of Beattie's Rangers career has been interrupted by injury

Rangers striker James Beattie says he has great sympathy for his team-mate Nikica Jelavic, who is out for the rest of 2010 with an ankle injury.

But Beattie intends to take advantage of the situation, in order to cement his own place in the team.

He has recovered from a thigh injury and hopes to be available to face Motherwell on Saturday.

"It's unfortunate for Nika, but it's a good chance for me to get back in the side and establish myself," he said.

"He was on good form and forging a good partnership with Kenny (Miller) and then he was taken out most cynically by one of the Hearts players (Ian Black).

"He's undergone an operation and seemed quite upbeat when I spoke to him but he's obviously disappointed."

Black has since apologised to Jelavic and insisted there was no malice in the challenge.

Bad challenges have become something of a talking point in recent weeks, with Fifa's top medical official telling the BBC recently that football at the highest level was being disfigured by "criminality" and "brutality" on the pitch.

Allan is a fantastic goalkeeper. I'm not surprised he is getting interest from top clubs like Manchester United James Beattie

And while Beattie does not feel that is a growing problem, he does believe players should have a greater concern for their fellow professionals.

"If you go back a few years, those tackles would probably have been accepted," he added.

"Football's changed, but it's something you don't want to see - dirty challenges. It's pretty unacceptable. Players shouldn't be doing that to each other."

Injury problems have hampered Beattie's Rangers career thus far. He was short of match fitness when he arrived, but declared himself ready to play and featured in the club's opening four matches.

But the arrival of Jelavic and a thigh injury have kept him out since then.

"I hadn't played a competitive game since December so I was quite happy when the manager asked if I wanted to start the first game," he went on.

"I said yes and played the first four games and we won.

Jelavic was injured following a challenge by Hearts midfielder Black

"Then, I was only injured for about two weeks but I missed five games, which has been a little bit frustrating."

Since his arrival at the club, Beattie says he has been hugely impressed by the form of goalkeeper Allan McGregor who, it has been speculated, is the subject of interest from Manchester United.

Beattie ranks him alongside the best he has seen during his career.

"Allan is a fantastic goalkeeper and he's a great lad as well," said Beattie.

"I'm not surprised he is getting interest from top clubs like Manchester United.

"It's very important for us to keep hold of our best players. That's up to the board and Allan himself.

"If he keeps performing as he is, superbly all the time, he is going to create interest.

"It's up to the club to keep him and for him to keep his head right. His performances in training and in games are fantastic. He is gaining interest and it's well-deserved."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version