Tony expects refreshed Hoops

CELTIC manager Tony Mowbray hopes some time away from the club will prove a tonic for his players.

Celtic host St Johnstone tomorrow before playing St Mirren and Kilmarnock in the following seven days as they bid to keep alive their faint title hopes. The players returned to training yesterday after some time off and Mowbray said: "The players must be aware that we have their welfare at heart and are trying to make sure that they are in best frame of mind for football matches, as well as physically ready to play. There is always a balance there. You can't train them every single day and run them into the ground."