Gary Hooper is looking to give Neil Lennon a real selection dilemma by declaring himself fit to face Hearts on Saturday.
The former Scunthorpe striker has been out of action since tearing a calf muscle against Blackburn on August 8 but is in the final stages of his recovery.
Hooper will be hoping to get a place on the bench against Hearts with Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy and Georgios Samaras also in contention for a place.
“The international break has done me a favour,” Hooper told Ch67. “It means that there’s one game less that I’ve missed.
“I’ve started working outside and hopefully will join the squad towards the end of the week and be involved in the Hearts game.
“Over the last four weeks I’ve just had to get on with my rehab. It’s mainly been a case of getting massages, some gym work and running which I’ve been doing six days a week and resting in-between.
“The injury has come at an annoying time, I’d scored in a couple of games and was looking forward to getting started in the league.
“At first I felt that the injury was just a bad kick on my calf. I tried to run it off like a dead leg but I got a scan and that showed a tear in my calf and that’s ruled me out for four weeks.”
Any Edinburgh based Celtic supporters travelling to the match on Saturday could do worse than break their journey by stopping off at the Herriot Watt University Grounds where Hearts and Celtic u-19s meet at 11am.
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