Scottish preview: Jackson ready to complete his remarkable recovery

Darren Jackson, the Scotland striker, returns to McDiarmid Park tomorrow - a ground that is etched in his memory. It was there in August he made his final League appearance for Celtic before he was told he needed brain surgery.

Jackson, who scored in that 2-0 victory against St Johnstone, then became ill with a violent headache in the run-up to the Uefa Cup match against Tirol 72 hours later. However, he has made a remarkable recovery and is back in the first-team squad, more than grateful to be wearing the green and white.

"It is incredible when you think about the chain of events since that match against St Johnstone," he said. "We won the match at McDiarmid Park well with two good goals from Henrik [Larsson] and me. But three days later I was in hospital facing brain surgery. You can't get much more of a contrast.

"Thankfully things went well and here I am playing again which is brilliant. A lot of people have said I am ahead of schedule but I feel fine and I am really enjoying just being part of things again."

The leaders, Rangers, face the one team who have beaten them in the league this season, Dundee United, who were 2-1 winners at Tannadice in October. While the champions will be favourites, Rangers' only domestic home defeat also came against United, a 1-0 Coca-Cola Cup quarter-final loss.