Rumour Mill: Pandza to Rangers? | Celtic

Boris Pandza (in white) takes on Manchester United's Javier Hernandez in a game between Bosnia and Mexico. Picture: Getty

Rangers ‘unprofessional’ says Pandza

Rangers target Boris Pandza has hit out at the club for showing a lack of professionalism in their attempts to sign him.

The Bosnian international defender held talks with the club in the summer, but appears to have lost patience with the lack of progress from Ibrox.

Pandza said: “Nothing’s happened. Everybody says ‘wait, wait, wait’ - all summer we waited and in the end, nothing.

When they’ve been talking about this for three months and haven’t done anything then that’s not professional.” (STV)

Bug could keep Forrest out for Barca

Celtic and Scotland winger James Forrest has been hit by a mystery virus which saw him hospitalised for the best part of a week.

The club are concerned that the bug could rule him out of the club’s Champions League tie against Barcelona in two weeks’ time.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon said: “They think it was a deep-lined respiratory virus but they are waiting on a few more tests coming back. Nothing has been confirmed yet.

“He was in hospital from Saturday until Wednesday, which was very concerning, but he is out now and feeling a bit better.” (Scotsman)

Stokes ‘was on thin ice’ - Lennon

Anthony Stokes was in danger of losing his place at Celtic last season according to Neil Lennon, who has praised the Irish striker for his ‘professional’ approach.

Lennon said: “Yes, I had him in the office a couple of times. It’s fair to say he was walking on very thin ice. It wasn’t about tarnishing the club, he was hurting himself.

“It was nothing to do with stuff last year, the stuff in Dublin, it was just his indiscipline around the training ground and the team. He’s tidied that up now and become a really good professional.” (Scotsman)

Bouzid backed to shore up Killie

Kilmarnock’s defensive woes could be solved by new signing Ismael Bouzid, according to midfielder Barry Nicholson.

The former Hearts stopper joined the Rugby Park side on a free transfer yesterday. Nicholson said: “We need a no-nonsense defender like Bouzi. Someone to go and win the balls in the area for us.

“The manager wants us to be a team that plays football but Bouzi gives us something that we have missed, a dominant centre-half.” (Scotsman)

Celtic signings to make home debuts; Hasselbaink wants Dutch bragging rights

• New signings Teemu Pukki and Nir Biton look set to make their home debuts for Celtic in this afternoon’s game with St Johnstone.

Neil Lennon is expected to rotate his squad as they play three games over a seven-day stretch. Celtic, who lost 2-0 in Milan on Wednesday, play Morton in the League Cup on Tuesday. (Scotsman)

• St Johnstone striker Nigel Hasselbaink is keen to have something to say to his Dutch compatriots Derk Boerrigter and Virgil van Dijk after today’s game with Celtic.

The Dutchman is one of a growing contingent from the Netherlands plying their trade in the Scottish Premiership, and Hasselbaink said: “Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to [the Celtic duo} with a smile on my face after the game.” (Scotsman)

Today’s Scottish Premiership fixtures (3pm kick-offs):

• Celtic v St Johnstone

• Partick Thistle v Kilmarnock

• Hibernian v St Mirren

• Ross County v Hearts

• Aberdeen v Inverness CT

Rumour Mill: Pandza to Rangers? | Celtic | SPFL