Martin O’Neill has confirmed the injury status of Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney ahead of Celtic’s clash with Motherwell.
The pair had to miss Celtic’s shootout win at Ibrox through injury, with O’Neill’s men putting in an almighty shift to ensure progression in the absence of several key players.
It doesn’t get much easier this weekend with Motherwell coming to Celtic Park, and as key leaders in the squad, the team could do with Tierney and McGregor returning sooner rather than later.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, O’Neill gave an update.
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Martin O’Neill gives McGregor and Tierney update for Celtic
The interim boss said: “Callum? He will miss the game, but Kieran’s in better shape and he’ll be there.
“It’s a calf strain [for McGregor], but we’re hopeful. He’s done very well in recovery, and we’d be hopeful for him for next week.”
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On the general mood at training and whether it can be a ‘springboard’ for the rest of Celtic’s season, O’Neill said: “No, I don’t think the atmosphere has needed lifting.
“If anything, I think the result on Wednesday at Aberdeen probably gave us that lift to go to Ibrox and try and get a result.
“So no, I think that the players are pretty buoyant, and have been now for some time.
“Obviously, during the course of weeks, if you didn’t get a result as we didn’t against Hibs, there’s a natural deflation.
“But you have to try and overcome that as soon as possible, and I think we’ve done that.”
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Celtic are five points off Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with nine games of the league season remaining, including five post-split fixtures.
Motherwell are in with a slight chance of a late title-push, but only if they can take all three points on Saturday.
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