Celtic head coach John Barnes said yesterday he would avoid the temptation of making new Brazilian recruit Rafael's first taste of Scottish action an Old Firm derby. Celtic meet Rangers on Monday with Rafael technically able to play having completed the work permit formalities of his £4.8 million switch from Gremio.

That means Rafael's competitive debut is likely to be immediately after the Scottish Premier League's shutdown with Barnes's tribute to the player yesterday indicating he will be a first choice at Celtic.

When asked if Rafael might face Rangers, Barnes said: "I'm sure it's an option, but it's not one we'll be exercising. He's not played for three weeks and I don't see the point of going down that route now.

"But he's a quality player and the kind we're always looking to bring to the club."

However Barnes claimed Rafael's arrival on a four-and-a-half year contract need not mark the end of anybody's else's career with pressure certain to be on Olivier Tebily, skipper Tom Boyd and even Swede Johan Mjallby.

Meanwhile, Gerard Houllier has assured Liverpool he wants to stay with the club well into the next century after his contract ends. Houllier has been boosted this week by the news that the club's executive vice-chairman Peter Robinson wants him to continue after his current deal expires in 2003.

USA women's World Cupwinning side have gone on strike in a pay dispute with US Soccer, the country's governing body of the sport. The 20 players have told the federation they will not take part in next month's Australia Cup, an Olympic-preparation tournament.