And welcome back to another mid-week madness match for Celtic. Playing the second of three matches in 6 days Celtic will be hoping to continue their winning ways in a home match versus Hibs tomorrow at 2:45. Celtic came off of a 4-1 win over St. Johnstone this past Sunday while Hibs are coming off of an equally impressive 5-1 demolition of Hamilton.
Lots and lots and lots of movement as it still appears that Stephen McManus may be moving away from Celtic on loan (and probably putting paid to his time at Celtic Park) and Danny Fox on a 1.8 million pound transfer to Burnley. Incoming (and coming directly into the squad) is Morten (Duncan) Rasmussen, our new Danish international striker. Also looking to join the squad is Jos Hooiveld who may be seeing his first action this week as fellow countryman Glenn Loovens will be a closer to game-time decision due to the concussion he received this past Sunday.
Other injury front news has an announcement of Scott McDonald and Scott Brown both in training and returning to full strength.
Fun fact time: which player has 8 goals in the past 10 matches?
If you said Georgios Samaras, give yourself a point. Kind of snuck up on you there, no?
Due to illness I am no more than 50/50 for making the match tomorrow. If someone would be kind enough to collect, consider me indebted to you.
Celtic continues their SPL season by facing off against St. Johnstone this Sunday at half past 10. Celtic remain in second place with 38 points from 19 matches while St. Johnstone are holding on to 9th place with 19 points from 17 matches.
This game begins a series of 3 matches in 6 days for Celtic (Sunday - Wednesday - Saturday) and their hopes to get back in to the SPL race. Celtic have been facing a massive injury woe as Ki Sung-Yueng, Scott McDonald, Stephen McManus, Mark Wilson, Danny Fox, Paul Caddis, and Lee Naylor are injured. Landry NGuemo remains away on international duty.
Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown are apparently fit again but do not seem to factor in to this weekend’s match.
On the transfer news front, saying Scott Brown is leaving gets you sued, Scott McDonald is the next to go out the door to Middlesboro (apparently) or Wigan and we now have signed Thomas Rogne to meet up with Jos Hooiveld. Also rumored to be coming in are Paul Slane (Motherwell) a youngster on a free contract in the summer and (take this as you will) the Danish Duncan Ferguson,Morten Rasmussen for a fee of around 2 million pounds.
I hope to see everyone there on Sunday with a later start to gird our loins for the field of battle.
The Scottish Cup waits for Celtic tomorrow as they travel to Cappielow Park to face off against Morton. Morton, who currently reside in 8th place in Division One have lost matches to the big freeze recently and will come to the match without former Celt Paul McGowan, who is suspended.
Celtic who are coming off of a 1-1 draw with 12th place Falkirk (sigh) can now have the ‘injury-hit’ tag placed on them with Ki out for a month with an ankle injury, Danny Fox out with a groin injury, Stephen McManus out with a calf injury and our long term walking wounded of Scott McDonald, Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown still missing out. It is reported that Glenn Loovens will be returning to action after some tummy trouble.
As it being January two reports have surfaced in the past 24 hours. The first is Lee Naylor to Ipswich Town to join Roy Keane (which doesn’t make the best of sense as Danny Fox is hurt) and Philippe Senderos leaving Arsenal to join Celtic on loan. For those not knowledgeable about Senderos he is a central defender (YAY!) who plays internationally for Switzerland. If he does join Celtic (and that announcement should come today if it is coming) he would be the second Swiss defender to join Celtic in recent history. Let us hope he does better than the first.
The game will NOT be broadcast but you may be able to find online options for the game. Let us hope the Hoops find a better run of play tomorrow!
Celtic are back in league play again this Saturday, playing Falkirk at home. Celtic are currently residing in 2nd place in the table, 7 points back of the huns and 4 points in front of third placed Hibs. Falkirk are at the bottom of the table 2 points away from Kilmarnock who reside in 11th place.
Of course some changes have come to the team with Gary Caldwell going to Wigan, Willo Flood (who?) and Chris Killen (who?) going on loan to Middlesboro for the remainder of their contracts and Barry Robson (who was playing well) gone in a transfer to Middlesboro as well.
Joining Celtic is Jos Hooiveld, a 6′3″ center half who was bought from AIK in the Swedish league. He, like Georgios Samaras began his career at Heerenveen and is under contract for the next 3 1/2 years.
Other rumors abound, including (no, not mentioning Keane) Celtic looking at Thomas Rogne a 19 year old Norwegian center half and Markus Johnsson a Swedish right back who plays for AIK.
Adding more fun on the injury front, Scott McDonald will be out the remainder of the month with hernia surgery and the condition of Landry N’Guemo is yet to be determined as he came off injured in the Africa Cup of Nations. Long term injuries to Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown have yet to have a comeback date announced.
In Scottish Cup news, some interesting info. Dunfirmline had to forfeit their 7-1 victory over Stenhousemuir due to the fielding of an ineligible player. This means if Celtic overcome Morton then we would face off against a lesser light in the next round. Dunfirmline plan on appealing, but don’t you believe it.
I hope to see everyone bright and mid-morningy on Saturday!
