Team News: O’Neill makes one change as veteran returns

Martin O’Neill has made one change to the Celtic side that clinched the SPFL Premiership title for today’s Scottish Cup Final.

James Forrest comes in for Sebastian Tounekti for the match against Dunfermline as the hoops look to clinch a domestic double.

O’Neill has stuck with 10 of the starting 11 that have seen Celtic through their last four matches.

Luke McCowan started in the Glasgow Derby, Tounekti played against Motherwell and Hearts with Forrest starting today.

With two Irishmen in the dug-out there is plenty riding on the match. O’Neill and Neil Lennon first came together at Leicester City almost 30 years ago.

Neither manager will have any place for sentiment as they compete for the last domestic trophy of the season.

Whether it is O’Neill’s last match in charge of Celtic is one of the many strands to the match.

CELTIC TURN TO VETERAN TROPHY WINNER JAMES FORREST

Celtic go out at Hampden one week after the euphoria of clinching title 56 after beating Hearts 3-1 on Matchday 38.

That match was the culmination of three draining fixtures over seven days in which the hoops lost the opening goal each time.

Following the drama and fall out O’Neill will have had his players fully focussed in the build up to Hampden.

Almost all of the squad have tasted the bitter pill of defeat in two cup finals over the last 12 months.

Like St Mirren and Aberdeen Dunfermline come into today’s match as rank outsiders.

Defeating Hibs, Aberdeen and Falkirk on route to the final demonstrates that Lennon’s side carry a real threat.

Last week Dunfermline lost out in the Play Off semi-final to Partick Thistle. That has provided the consolation of a full week of training with 17,000 Dunfermline fans at today’s match.

Steven McLean will referee today’s match with Matthew MacDermid on VAR.

CELTIC: Sinisalo; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Yang, Maeda, Forrest

SUBS: Doohan, McCowan, Iheanacho, Osmand, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tounekti, Saracchi, Murray, Ralston