MARK WARBURTON insists he won’t risk Rangers skipper Lee Wallace for the Old Firm showdown with Celtic on Saturday.

The defender picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday and missed the Gers’ draw against St Johnstone.

After also seeing off Aberdeen, Hearts and Hamilton in recent weeks, it was a frustrating night at McDiarmid Park as Warburton’s side dropped two crucial Premiership points.

Read more: St Johnstone 1 Rangers 1: It should have been better but it could have been worse for Mark Warburton's side

Defender Clint Hill hobbled out of the action in the second half and is also a doubt to face Brendan Rodgers’ side at Ibrox.

Warburton said: “It is early days. Lee was out on the training pitch today doing light work and he is touch and go.

“Fingers crossed because he is a very influential player. He is our skipper and he has been outstanding so fingers crossed we can get Lee there.

“Clint was an impact injury, a dead leg type. If it is Tuesday night… Wednesday is one night closer but he is a quick healer and a good pro. Again, touch wood we can get him ready.

“I wouldn’t risk anybody. The health and wellbeing of the players is always paramount.

Read more: St Johnstone 1 Rangers 1: It should have been better but it could have been worse for Mark Warburton's side

“Someone said to me yesterday ‘you have got a three week break, you can risk him’. Absolutely not.

“He is a pro and the health and welfare of the players has to be paramount. You saw Lee Hodson come on and to come on and respond like he did, we have got enough quality if required.”

The loss of Hill added to Warburton’s disappointment in Perth as two points slipped through Rangers’ grasps.

The Light Blues started brightly and deservedly took the lead as Barrie McKay kept his cool to convert after Joe Garner’s shot was saved.

But a howler from defender Rob Kiernan allowed Tommy Wright’s side to level before the break and earn a share of the spoils.

Rangers are now just five points clear of Aberdeen in the race to be best of the rest this term as they missed out on a fifth successive league win.

Warburton said: “I feel that we have dropped two points rather than gained a point if I am honest.

“In the first half, we were good, really good. We posed them problems on both flanks, had clever play through the middle and we should have been one or two ahead at half-time.

“We weren’t and that is disappointing. Second half, not as good a level of performance but I felt we were controlling it. Did we test the keeper enough? No we didn’t.

“It is a tough place to come. They are a good team, I have a lot of respect for Tommy and his staff. Disappointed not to take all three points.”

Rangers passed up a series of decent scoring opportunities in a bright first half showing but there was little to separate the sides after the break as the Saints equipped themselves well.

The error from Kiernan was to prove costly for the Light Blues as his slack pass to keeper Wes Foderingham allowed Steven MacLean to nick the ball and score.

Read more: St Johnstone 1 Rangers 1: It should have been better but it could have been worse for Mark Warburton's side

Kiernan has been linked with a move to Fulham in recent days and Warburton refused to point the finger of blame at the stopper.

He said: “We are all human. Find me someone who is perfect. It is about how Rob Kiernan responds to the mistake.

“Did he shy away from the ball, did he shy away from a tackle? No, he didn’t. We are all human. As long as he learns from the mistake, which we all must do.

“That is the way you learn. I have no problem with him making a mistake."