Celtic told the one player fans will be ‘excited’ to see take on Hearts

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Celtic fans are buzzing to have club football back this weekend.

The Scottish Premiership took a backseat to the international break following the Hoops’ most recent 3-2 defeat to Rangers before time off but it’s almost time to get back to the real stuff.

Celtic face Hearts at Parkhead in what should be an afternoon of entertainment with Brendan Rodgers knowing his side must improve from their Glasgow derby day performance.

They’ll have to do so without the injured Kasper Schmeichel in goal who was hurt during his time with Denmark.

So it will be Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks when the Jambos arrive later today for the big game.

• READ MORE: Alan Hutton shares how Aston Villa really felt about Viljami Sinisalo joining Celtic

Gordon Dalziel says Celtic fans will be excited to see Viljami Sinisalo

The Finn has only played once this season in a Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers and Open Goal pundit Gordon Dalziel isn’t yet convinced he will have the same impact on the game as a ball-playing Schmeichel would.

But the former Rangers player says Celtic fans will be “excited” to see their goalie in action as they’ve yet to get a proper glimpse at him competitively.

“The thing I worry about is Schmeichel is such an important part of them; building up, he is brilliant,” Dalziel said.

“[Sinisalo] is an international. What is he, 23? He came for a million quid or whatever it may be, but [it is] a great opportunity for him, right?

“I think that’d be a great game for him because I think if you go and play Raith Rovers, I don’t think he hardly touched the ball, whereas Hearts are coming bit of confidence, knowing that a win keeps them up in that top six because if they lost and Motherwell beat Aberdeen, all of a sudden there is a leapfrog there.

“So I think Celtic fans will be excited to see him.

“But I just wonder how that is going to change the way Celtic play and how comfortable he is at building like Schmeichel does.”

Sinisalo set for Celtic Premiership debut

Sinisalo’s debut came in a 5-0 win and the stopper played well enough, even if the attacks were heading mostly in the other direction.

His time at Exeter City in League One was much more convincing where he played 50 times for the Grecians in one campaign.

John McGinn had a part to play in Sinisalo’s career with an Ayr United shout and if anyone knows a player from a teammate’s perspective, it would be the Aston Villa captain and Scotland hero.

We really are excited to see what the big man, 23, can do in the Celtic jersey and a clean sheet vs Hearts would certainly go a long way.