October 30.

James Traynor bemoans the Rangers injury list (October 29) and raises

the much vexed issue of ''too many games'' spoiling the European

aspirations of our top sides.

This is a well-worn cliche to be unwrapped and presented as an excuse

whenever our national and domestic teams fail in the face of superior

opposition.

Let's examine the facts: in the run-up to the second leg in Leeds

Rangers players have been occupied thus: Wednesday -- St Johnstone

(away); Saturday -- no game; Wednesday -- Portugal (World Cup); Saturday

-- Hibs (home); Wednesday -- Leeds (home); Sunday -- Aberdeen (Skol

Cup); Saturday -- Motherwell (home).

The only midweek commitments therefore were a World Cup qualifier and

a European Cup tie, hardly trivial and meaningless fixtures.

James Traynor states that Walter Smith was forced to field unfit

players against Aberdeen as ''it was a cup final after all''. So not

only is the extra burden of midweek exertions a cause for concern but

the small matter of a weekend domestic cup final must be regarded in the

same light.

Tom McLaughlin,

30 Duddingston Mills,

Edinburgh.