Celtic will be without Fraser Forster for the League Cup semi-final with St Mirren.
Lucasz Zaluska will deputise for the third game running as the Geordie overcomes a neck injury picked up during Celtic’s winter break in Marbella.
February could see Forster make his full international debut for England as well as playing against Juventus for a place in the last eight of the Champions League.
Neil Lennon won’t be rushed into bringing Forster back into the team with a return against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night a possibility.
“Fraser’s not a real concern,” the hoops boss explained. “We hope he will start training again next week. We just don’t want to aggravate it. He is feeling a lot better, but it is probably just too soon for him this weekend.
“There is a lot of inflammation in and around it and we need it to settle down before getting back into it. We know that if he does start training now he could aggravate it again so it is pointless pushing him.”
Tomorrow’s trip to Hampden inevitably brings about talk of a possible domestic treble with the hoops 12 points clear in the SPL and through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
Lennon picked up a treble within six months of joining Celtic and would love to repeat the glories of 2001 when the club made a clean sweep of the honours.
“We’ve come close a couple of times,” the Celtic boss admitted addressing the treble question. “When you are going well in all the competitions, the more the talk starts about the treble, but it’s a very difficult thing to do and I know that from experience as a player and the last two seasons as a manager.
“I am always wary of semi finals, particularly at Hampden when it can be a bit of a surreal atmosphere at times, with the crowd being so far away from the pitch and probably inclement weather conditions, which can make the game a bit more of a leveller as well.”
Willie Collum will referee the Celtic v St Mirren match.
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Expect another beauty of a performance from Mr Collum tomorrow!!
Lets get a win today bhoys and move a step closer to the treble. Hail hail
Gollum, thats no good, wonder what honest mistakes he will make