Celtic injuries ease as Sutton questions title hopes
Ex-Rangers man Thomson says rivals should worry as Celtic still chase a league and cup double despite poor form, backing them to beat St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Celtic are linked with Scott McKenna, but Dinamo Zagreb want about £10m. He impressed in Croatia, with other clubs keen. Celtic have Trusty, Scales and Carter-Vickers returning at centre-back.
Opinion piece argues being written off could suit Celtic. Five wins from the split would all but secure the title, with O’Neill targeting a seven-game streak, two already achieved.
Sutton says Celtic are out of the title race, citing lack of control, a leggy midfield of McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nygren, striker doubts and rivals’ belief after a laboured 1-0 v St Mirren.
On 14 April: Celtic’s 1900 Scottish Cup ‘hurricane final’ win, 1966 1-0 v Liverpool, 1984 2-1 St Mirren semi, 1990 2-0 Clydebank semi, and 2004 Villarreal exit with title still in sight.
Chris Sutton doubts Nygren’s Premier League dynamism despite 19 goals, praising his movement and left foot but questioning if he suits the step up amid £25m talk.
Ralston details extra work before his first start since January in the 1-0 win over St Mirren, stepping in with Johnston, Araujo and Donovan injured, and vows professionalism for the run-in.
O’Neill plans a closed-doors bounce game to speed returns, with Alistair Johnston close. Engels back, Araujo out for season, Donovan a doubt. He laments missing Jota, Carter-Vickers and Johnston.
Grant MacDermid will referee Celtic vs St Mirren at Hampden, with Kevin Clancy on VAR. MacDermid has overseen Celtic’s 2-0 loss to Dundee, 4-2 win over Livingston and 2-1 loss to Hibs this season.
Report claims Celtic and Rangers are among clubs eyeing Liverpool’s Andy Robertson on a free, with Spurs and Milan also interested.
McCoist rows back on claims Celtic are ‘running Scottish football’, saying he was winding up Alan Brazil, while noting Celtic’s home-heavy run and a potential final-day decider v Hearts.
Frank McAvennie praises Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin, likening him to Callum McGregor and Scott Brown, and says he ‘wishes’ the midfielder was at Celtic amid current midfield issues.
Sevilla are eyeing Celtic winger Luis Palma after his Lech Poznan loan, but any move depends on their La Liga survival. Poznan want a £3.5m deal, while Palma has two years left on his Celtic deal.
Ex-Celt Tony Watt says Kelechi Iheanacho is Celtic’s best number nine if fit, doubts Daizen Maeda centrally, and questions Tomas Cvancara’s sharpness and long-term future in the run-in.
