Celtic pull out of pre-season friendly

Celtic have called off their B team friendly against East Kilbride on Tuesday night.

The news emerged in a tweet from the League One club who will now play St Mirren’s u-19 side instead.

Typically there has been no comment from Celtic who have failed to make any reference to Saturday’s defeat away to Peterhead.

It seems that Celtic uncovered some registration issues at half time during the match at Peterhead.

According to a report on Celtic Underground the half time interval was extended to 30 minutes as Celtic tried to resolve the issues.

Four players listed as substitutes appear not to have been registered with the SFA including summer signing Shay McGarry from Cliftonville.

With those players unavailable the others will have played more minutes than intended.

East Kilbride three days later would have offered a tougher test, Celtic have pulled out of the short trip to K-Park.

It could be that some of the players have been called up into the first team squad that is in Ireland for the match against Shelbourne.

CELTIC SQUAD STRETCHED TO COVER PRE SEASON FRIENDLIES

On Wednesday Celtic fly out to Portugal for the main element of pre-season training which includes a match against Sporting Lisbon on July 14.

Over recent seasons the players have been given 45 minutes in the first match, 60 in the second then 70-80 minutes in the third and fourth matches.

That requires at least 22 players to be in the travelling squad.

If players are called up it usually creates an opportunity for others.

Clearly Celtic have no confidence in calling up younger players to play against East Kilbride.

Celtic B will start their campaign in the Lowland League West away to Beith Juniors on July 25 followed three days later by hosting Clydebank at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium.