David Weir yesterday joined an illustrious band of Rangers players who have scored against Celtic in an Old Firm derby, but he then joined another group of Ibrox men whose presence is threatening to undermine their pursuit of European and domestic glory.

The Scotland defender did not even see Barry Robson seal Celtic’s success in the second half because he was too busy in the dressing-room nursing a groin injury that will almost certainly put him out of the second leg of the Uefa Cup semi-final against Fiorentina on Thursday. “I don’t know if I will be fit to play yet,” he said. “I want to and I will do my best to be ready.”

Rangers have already been stripped of the influence of Allan MGregor, the goalkeeper, and the midfield players, Lee McCulloch and Steven Naismith, by recent injuries. Now Weir and Steven Davis, who also picked up a groin strain at Celtic Park, are poised to join the walking wounded.

Not surprisingly, the events that unfolded in the east end of Glasgow completely overshadowed Weir’s first Old Firm goal, a thumping seventeenth-minute header that restored parity at 1-1 and provided the platform that allowed Daniel Cousin to put Rangers in front. Scott McDonald had already levelled the contest when Weir limped off in the 50th minute, to be replaced by Amdy Faye.

“It is my groin,” Weir said. “It felt sore at half-time and I could not play on. It was good to get the goal that got us back into the game and then Daniel put us ahead but Celtic got level again. I did not see their winning goal. I was sitting in the dressing-room feeling sorry for myself. We just have to put this result behind us and move on to the next game. We have six matches left in the Premier League and our destiny is still in our own hands. There are a lot of disappointed people in that dressing-room but disappointed in the right manner.

“These things happen. You do not win championships easily. They do not hand them out. You have to work hard and there are bad times and good times. This is obviously one of the bad ones. However, we have a strong team and we will come back.

“We’re not happy with the goals we conceded but I don’t think Celtic will be either. The games will now come thick and fast for us and we have to stay focused.”

Weir felt that McDonald was offside for the first of his two goals. “I felt that he was off but these things happen. Every decision does not go for you. The referee is the one who has to make his mind up.”

Weir knows he could be sitting in the stand in Florence on Thursday as Rangers try to secure the result that would take them to the Uefa Cup final. He has been a vital component in Walter Smith’s team plans all season, and now the 37-year-old could miss the most crucial part if his injury does not heal. “It will be terrible to sit out the Fiorentina game,” Weir said.

“However, it is not about me. It is a team game and there are a lot of boys now going through this. We have to come back stronger. We have to take this defeat on the chin and move on.”