GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 11: Celtic huddle ahead of kick off during the William Hill Premiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has made just one change to the Celtic side that faces St Mirren today.
Tony Ralston replaces the injured Colby Donovan at right back as the hoops kick off the home stretch of fixtures.
After two months out due to a thigh strain Arne Engels is named as a substitute to give Celtic some depth on the bench.
Kelechi Iheanacho, the matchwinner at Dundee remains on the bench with doubts over his ability to start and finish a match.
Today is the first of four home matches as Celtic look to win their fifth successive title.
CELTIC INTO THE FINAL STRETCH
Since the start of March they’ve been to Aberdeen, Ibrox twice and both Dundee grounds. Now they get the chance to play out arun of home matches.
The pitch should be well rested while the welcome return of the Green Brigade should add an edge on the pitch.
The Green Brigade have been absent since a 4-0 home win over Falkirk in November. A repeat of that result would certainly send Celtic into the split fixtures in good shape.
Celtic have won the two prior SPFL matches this season. Both with late goals, after 87 minutes in each match the games have been goal-less.
In the opener Luke McCowan came up with a late winner. Back in November it was into stoppage time when Callum McGregor found the back of the net.
In the final match of last season it was stoppage time when Celtic equalised. More memorable was James Forrest scoring for the 16th consecutive season.
UNDER NEWS MANAGEMENT
Both of the managers from Hampden in December have moved on.
St Mirren went internal with Craig McLeish promoted when Stephen Robinson left for Aberdeen last month.
Two wins out of three have justified that decision, especially last week’s 2-0 home win over Aberdeen.
Those wins have kept a healthy gap over Kilmarnock but after two season’s in the top six Saints will be involved in the relegation fixtures- after next week’s semi-final against Celtic at Hampden.
Duncan Nicolson will referee today’s match. The third time that he has been in charge of the hoops this season.
CELTIC: Sinisalo; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren; Yang, Cvancara, Maeda.
SUBS: Doohan, McCowan, Iheanacho, Tounekti, Engels, Saracchi, Hatate, Arthur, Forrest
FFS at least bring Saracchi on KT left his CFC heart in London or Spain. Cvancara’s having his best game for us and he’s still fukkin hopeless. Ralston’s a negative wastae a jersey….Ox is class but looks injured/unfit/ or both, jesus suffering christ? No’ suffering as much as we’ve been this season. But Sinisalo’s doing awright!