Ally McCoist welcomes Walter Smith's arrival on Rangers board Smith, who managed Rangers to 10 league titles in two spells, has made it clear he will not be playing any role in the day-to-day running of the club or the team. McCoist - who played under Smith and worked as his assistant before replacing him at the helm - said: "He was eager to make the point that he won't be standing on my toes. We had a good couple of conversations and he wanted to make it crystal clear to everyone. It's a brilliant thing for me because he is great contact between me and the board. I'm pleased that Ian Hart is also on board because it shows there is unification. Outwith Malcolm Murray there were no real Rangers men on the board so it's good that in Ian Hart and Walter we have that. I have known Ian for a number of years and apart from being a gentleman he is a good Rangers man who will bring his expertise to the board so all in all it has been a good week. Dundee United manager Peter Houston hopes his players can produce a backlash from Easter Road in Friday night's Clydesdale Bank Premier League match with Kilmarnock. United lost 2-1 to league leaders Hibernian last Sunday, which halted their recent revival in the SPL. Houston's side have the chance to get back to winning ways when Kilmarnock visit Tannadice and he has urged them to make amends for the manner in which they went down in Edinburgh. He said: "The players were very frustrated after losing to Hibs and we're obviously hoping to take some of that feeling into the Kilmarnock game. We shouldn't have been 2-0 down by our standards. One thing they know is that they can't put in a first-half performance like we did at Easter Road. We were on the back foot and allowed Hibs to dictate to us, which wasn't like us. But Tannadice is different and we always seem to enjoy a night game. We want to start at a high tempo and hopefully take the game to Kilmarnock. The games with Killie are normally tight but we have to look to get our noses in front and see where it takes us. United lost the corresponding fixture 3-1 in Ayrshire in August but Houston is confident there will be no repeat of their defending that day. He said: "Earlier in the season when we lost 3-1 down at Rugby Park we gave away some soft goals. But I think we've learned from that experience and I'm sure the boys will be a lot tighter at the back this time. We were on a bit of a roll until the Hibs match but it's great to have a game so soon after to look forward to. The Taysiders can move above Killie with a win as well as into the top six, but Houston is paying no attention to league placings at this early stage. He added: "We're gradually improving after a slow start. But I've always said to judge us at the end of the season. It doesn't really matter if we get into the top six by beating Kilmarnock on Friday night. Things are so tight with all the teams right now and I would expect it to be like that until the end of the season. Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels has admitted mixed feelings about his players being on international duty this week. Liam Kelly earned his first full Scotland cap in the win in Luxembourg, while goalkeeper Cammy Bell was also called-up but did not feature in the match. Rory McKeown completed the trio with an appearance for Northern Ireland Under-21s in their defeat against England on Tuesday. Shiels is thrilled to see his players and the club earn international recognition but, with a Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Dundee United tomorrow night to prepare for, says the timing was not ideal. He said: "You've got mixed feelings. You want them to be called up, it's recognition for our club. It's really pleasing that we're striking a chord with the international team and we're getting players capped and representing their country. But hopefully it doesn't have an adverse impact on their game preparation. We've had three players on international duty which isn't the best preparation but it happens to clubs all the time. We are just part of that. Saturday would have been better for the game for us. On the prospect of playing on a Friday night, Shiels added: "The summer months - August, September, April, May - are good times but the climate really isn't conducive to supporters coming home from work and travelling. If it was Kilmarnock against Ayr, or Dundee and Dundee United, teams in close proximity, then I would say it could benefit the crowd. But I think it takes from the crowd a little bit. You just have to bite the bullet. Killie striker Cillian Sheridan was more enthusiastic about the prospect of a Friday night fixture than his manager. He said: "I don't mind the idea. It's something different, rather than 3pm on a Saturday all the time. I prefer playing in the evening rather than during the day. I've got no problem with it. Sheridan is hoping to open his goal-scoring account against United in the clash at Tannadice. He said: "They've got a lot of attacking players but, for me, I'm up against the defenders. I've actually never scored against Dundee United, the back four has always been really solid any time I've played against them. I'll be hoping to get my first goal against them. They will want a win after losing last week and we'll want to build on our win against Ross County so it should be a good game. Celtic's Tony Watt has declared he has so much more to fulfil in his career than his crucial strike against Barcelona after signing a long-term contract at Parkhead. The 18 year-old has committed himself to the Parkhead club until summer 2016 after his decisive goal in the 2-1 Champions League win over the Catalans last week helped move negotiations along. The composed finish was far from the only evidence that Watt could have a significant long-term impact at Celtic Park but it has heightened interest in the forward, who signed from Airdrie last year in a deal worth about £80,000. However, the teenager does not appear to be in danger of losing his grounded approach to his life and career. "Everybody is stopping and talking to me and saying 'well done' for the Barcelona match," Watt said in a media conference at Celtic Park after signing his new deal today. Ever since then I've been happy. I've just taken it in my stride. It has happened so I can't dwell on it. It will be a good memory for the rest of my life but I just need to get on with the rest of my season and maybe look back at the end of the season. You don't want to go about bragging about it. It's obviously a big thing but other people have done it before and you need to take it in your stride. You don't want to be fazed by it and let it get in your head and start thinking you are better than what you are. It's a goal but I have got a lot more to do in my career. Watt dismissed suggestions the goal would put pressure on him to keep achieving. "All the fans are happy I scored," he added. They are not putting pressure on me, they are just delighted that it's just a big deal for the club. Hopefully I can emulate that and help us go through to the last 16. Watt's promise was evident from the moment he made his Celtic debut. The teenager, whose pace, strength and skill offer him the potential to be an all-round striker, scored two goals within six minutes of coming on for his Celtic debut against Motherwell at Fir Park in April. He has also scored six times this season, including one in each of Celtic's past three games. But he said: "I will never get ahead of myself and I just need to keep my feet on the ground, and I will do. I have got to deal with the pressure of people saying I am going to be the next thing. I have just got to keep going and doing what I do and keep the hunger. I will always have the hunger when I play for this club. You never really believe you have made it. I have still got a long, long way to go to keep my place in the team and hopefully I can do that over the next two or three years. In football you are always learning. You are never going to be the finished article unless you are the likes of Messi or maybe Ronaldo. Watt came into organised football later than most but soon made up for it by scoring goals for Airdrie's first-team after his potential was spotted by Diamonds boss Jimmy Boyle. "A few people around me like Jimmy Boyle told me I had the ability to go on and do stuff like this," Watt said. I never believed them and I was always hard on myself. Now he is the one that looks smart for saying that. I never thought I would make this impact when I came to Celtic but football is a weird game and it changes fast. Watt will hope to continue making his mark when Celtic face third-placed Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday. "I had to pull out of the (Scotland) Under-21 squad because I was injured at the weekend and my ankle was sore," he said. I have been getting treatment all week. Hopefully it will be okay. It's just a wee niggle. Hibernian striker Leigh Griffiths returns to former club Dundee this weekend with Hibernian still seeking to agree a deal to keep the new Scotland international at Easter Road. Griffiths joined Wolves on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Dundee in January 2011, but spent last season on loan at Hibs before returning in August until January. The 22 year-old was rewarded for his 12-goal tally in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with his first Scotland appearance in Luxembourg, but his club future is still to be determined. Hibs boss Pat Fenlon hopes to retain Griffiths, defender Ryan McGivern and midfielder Jorge Claros, whose loan deals from Manchester City and Motagua in Honduras, respectively, end in the new year. I've stayed out of it. I've left that up to the chairman (Rod Petrie), that's his job," Fenlon said. He's working away with Wolves and with Ryan McGivern at Man City and Jorge as well. It's a work in progress. We are trying very hard to keep the three boys. At this stage for us it will be extending them until the end of the season if we can. Of Griffiths' Scotland call-up, Fenlon added: "I was delighted for him. He deserves it. He's worked really hard to get into that position. Griffiths was on target in the 2-1 win over Dundee United which, coupled with Celtic's draw with St Johnstone, saw Hibs take top spot in the SPL. Fenlon added: "There's a lot of confidence around the place at the moment, which is great. It makes a change from where we've been previously. Following the win, Fenlon allayed fears over knee and ankle problems which saw Griffiths substituted. Captain James McPake (back) and defender Tim Clancy (groin) missed the match and are doubts for the trip to Dens Park, but Fenlon expects McGivern, who failed a fitness test ahead of Northern Ireland's midweek international with Azerbaijan, to be fit. Despite Dundee occupying the bottom of the table, Fenlon knows the challenge his side face, having lost at newly-promoted Ross County last month. "It's as big a challenge as Dundee United, because they're fighting for their lives, they're scrapping away," Fenlon added. They've had some decent results that gives them confidence. We're not that good that we can be complacent. We know we've got to work hard in every game to make sure we get something out of it.