Celtic’s youth team are hoping that it’s third time lucky when they face Hibs at Lennoxtown today, kick-off 1.30.
Postponements against Kilmarnock and Hearts have left Stevie Frail’s side kicking their heels following the frustration of drawing 2-2 at home to Aberdeen in their last outing.
Celtic trail Rangers by five points in the table with a game less played as the top two prepare for their April 14 clash at Murray Park.
“The boys are anxious to get playing again,” Frail admitted. “The last result was disappointing and the players are well aware of that.
“They know the demands of playing for Celtic and want to get back to playing the way that they can.
“We’ve worked them hard in training and know that Hibs will make it difficult for us. We had a tough game against them earlier in the season and reminding them of that is part of our preparations.
“The players who were away with the Scotland u-17 squad have returned and some of them will be in the squad.”
The postponements against Kilmarnock and Hearts mean that after today Celtic still have seven leagues matches to play as well as the semi-final, and hopefully final, of the SFA Youth Cup to contest.
“The fixtures won’t be an issue,” Frail added. “The players have got a very high level of fitness and dealing with the backlog won’t be a problem.
“We’re looking to get back to form by beating Hibs today before we think about Livingston next week.
“It’s cliched but you can’t look beyond the next match in football, we’ve got a job to do against Hibs and that’s what we’re concentrating on.”
Hibs are sitting in fifth place in the SPL table with 23 points from 16 matches, in their last match they lost 4-1 at home to Rangers.
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