Celtic missing key men for Hibs trip as Maeda leads line
Celtic and Rangers eye a new Shankland-style centre-forward this summer as both assess striker options after the title race.
Quiz tees up Hibs v Celtic, recalling Trusty’s red via VAR, a 0-0 at Easter Road and a 2-1 Celtic win in November, plus a Maeda goal controversially ruled out last year.
Celtic head to Hibs minus Schmeichel, Carter-Vickers and Araujo, with Sinisalo in goal and Maeda leading the line. Johnston returns to the squad. Win would keep pressure on leaders Hearts.
Maeda opened from a Johnston cross, Newell equalised amid VAR handball debate, then Iheanacho chested and finished Kieran Tierney’s corner for 2-1 at Easter Road. Celtic go level with Hearts, four above Rangers.
Celtic supporter recounts overcrowding in the Broomloan Stand at Ibrox, citing blocked stairways, lax stewarding and minimal police cordon inside, calling the experience ‘precarious’ but without major disorder.
Beram Kayal reflects on his instant impact after joining Celtic in 2010, 132 appearances before moves to Brighton and Charlton. Now assistant technical director with the Israeli FA.
Green Brigade confirm an Easter Road tifo for the ‘must-win’ Hibs clash, urging fans to ‘back the team’. Flags cannot be set up inside and will be handed out at turnstiles.
Ex-Celt Darren Jackson recalls a 1997-98 training bust-up that united the squad and sees parallels now as board and Green Brigade call a truce amid Celtic’s title push.
Celtic scout Venezia midfielder Issa Doumbia in person and could break their transfer record to sign the 22-year-old this summer.
SFA say there was insufficient evidence to overturn Joe Newell’s leveller for Hibs against Celtic after VAR review, with James McFadden noting an overturn must be 100 per cent factual.
Maeda scored then hobbled off after Celtic’s 2-1 win at Hibs, but Martin O’Neill says he is ‘hoping he’s going to be okay’. He admitted uncertainty over Newell’s handball flashpoint.
Opinion tips Rangers as pivotal in the Hearts-Celtic-Rangers race. Celtic face a tricky Hibs test but are backed to ‘get it done’ as pressure builds before Tynecastle and the derby.
Celtic’s Luke McCowan vows focus on beating Hibs, skipping Hearts v Rangers. He recalls Dundee’s 5-3 title decider and targets driving the Hoops’ run-in after signing a new deal.
