GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 03: Colby Donovan laughs during a Celtic training session at the Lennoxtown Training Centre, on April 03, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Arne Engels is set to feature in a bounce game this week to step up his fitness plan.
The midfielder suffered a thigh strain on February 11 as Celtic faced Livingston. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench to score a late winner.
Neither of those players are likely to play 90 minutes against St Mirren on Sunday but their playing time could be influential.
Engels came off the bench in the 62nd minute against St Mirren on Saturday.
His presence made an impact on the match but Celtic fans know that their midfield hasn’t been functioning this season.
Topping off recent issues has been an issue with Callum McGregor.
Martin O’Neill gives little away on the injury front but will get the chance to assess match fitness this week.
The Sun reports O’Neill saying:
We will try to get a bounce game for some of the players coming back.
That was the plan for Alistair (Johnston) coming back from his time in Canada.
We were going to organise that and it would help.
We don’t want to rush people back but if they are feeling good and want to have a bounce game, that would be ideal.
Callum Osmand has also been included in the conversations about injuries but his influence will surely be limited.
The former Fulham striker has made just three substitute appearances in senior football, the last one away to Midtjylland at the start of December.
Osmand replaced the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers in Celtic’s Europa League squad. The found himself ruled out for the remaining four group stage matches.
O’Neill will host a media conference on Friday to preview Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
