Celtic and Rangers will meet for the third time in the Scottish Premiership this weekend, as the latest chapter in one of the world’s most fiercest rivalries takes place at Celtic Park on Sunday (kick off: 12.30pm).
Both sides will head into the game in positive mood, after Barry Ferguson led his side to pulsating penalty shootout win over Fenerbahce in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday, while Celtic’s 2-0 win over Hibs in the Scottish Cup last weekend puts them on course for a memorable domestic treble.
Their first meeting since Rangers 3-0 victory at Ibrox in January, Brendan Rodgers’ team will be aiming for revenge against their bitter rivals on home soil, and he will have almost a whole squad to choose from. Both James Forrest and Liam Scales are edging closer to a return, though Rodgers is sweating on the fitness of captain Callum McGregor, who has a calf problem.
The visiting Gers are also slowly but surely getting back to full strength themselves, with the likes of John Souttar, Leon Balogun and Dujon Sterling returning to the squad in recent weeks. After a draining 120 minutes on Thursday though, Ferguson may have to rotate as he looks to keep his side fresh.
Ahead of the game at Celtic Park, The Scotsman has all all the latest team news:
5. Leon King - Rangers - OUT ON LOAN
The young Rangers defender completed an emergency loan to Queen's Park last month and is therefore ineligible for the weekend clash at Celtic Park. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
6. Connor Barron - Rangers - AVAILABLE
Went down late in extra-time on Thursday against Fenerbahce, but didn't look like anything serious and should be available for the game on Sunday. | PA Photo: PA
7. Adam Idah - Celtic - RETURN TO THE STARTING XI?
So often the scourge of Rangers, the Republic Of Ireland international came off the bench to grab the clinching second goal against Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final last week. Could he return to the starting XI for the visit of Rangers? | AFP via Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Callum McGregor - Celtic - DOUBT
A huge concern for Brendan Rodgers, McGregor said on Friday: “I wasn’t with the group today, so just trying to step it up and do a wee bit of individual work with the physio guys. Hopefully, we won’t have any reaction and I’ll be good to train with the team tomorrow, then if I can train tomorrow then I will be fit for Sunday. It’s a calf issue, so we will see how it goes.” | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group