Fifa will not make a decision on Daniel Cousin's move to Fulham until next week, meaning the striker is free to play in Rangers' Uefa Cup tie against Panathinaikos tonight.

Both clubs believed the transfer saga was finally set to come to and end, with a ruling from world football's governing body originally expected later today.

The £3 million switch has been on hold since a deal was struck on 22 January because Cousin, 31, has also featured for French club Lens this term and Fifa regulations forbid a player from playing for more than two clubs in one season.

However, all parties will have to wait until next week to learn whether special dispensation will be granted for the transfer to be completed.

"Rangers Football Club has been advised by Fulham that Fifa will make a decision on Daniel Cousin's proposed transfer to the London club some time next week," a Rangers spokesman said.

The news paves the way for the Gabon international to make a shock return to the team for tonight's last-32 clash at Ibrox.

Cousin has been out of action for more than three weeks pending the move to Fulham, and Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, has concerns over his fitness. But the striker has resumed training with the rest of the first team and would be seen as the ideal replacement for the suspended Jean-Claude Darcheville if Smith persists with the 4-5-1 formation deployed in Champions League games earlier in the season.