Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has provided an important injury update ahead of their Old Firm clash against Rangers on Sunday.
Celtic preparing for second Rangers battle within a week
Sunday at Ibrox, a Scottish Cup quarter-final, Celtic versus Rangers, five points separating the teams in the Scottish Premiership title race, and in front of thousands expected to generate an atmosphere loud enough to shake the stadium.
For a Celtic side that has not lifted the Scottish Cup since 2023, this match offers an opportunity to keep alive what could still become a memorable campaign.
O’Neill’s squad sit second in the league, pursuing Hearts who currently lead by five points, with Rangers also part of what has been one of the most gripping Scottish title races in recent seasons.
The championship is not completely out of reach, but it will demand something close to flawless performances from this point onward.
A cup run, meanwhile, provides another avenue toward silverware — and reaching Hampden for the semi-finals would be exactly the type of achievement capable of energising a squad during a tense run-in.Celtic and Rangers are extremely familiar with each other by now. The most recent league meeting between the clubs at Ibrox, just two Sundays ago, finished in a 2-2 draw — a result that dealt a heavy blow to Rangers’ European hopes and allowed Celtic to move above them in the table.Reo Hatate’s stoppage-time penalty, after Danny Rohl’s side had established a 2-0 lead, produced a moment of real drama that highlighted just how unpredictable Old Firm encounters can be, regardless of the broader situation.
Sunday’s meeting presents an entirely different challenge. A knockout contest, one match only, with the winner progressing.
For Rangers, who are still rebuilding under the German with support from the 49ers, the Scottish Cup represents another realistic opportunity to claim silverware this season.
For Celtic, it offers a chance to send a statement and keep hopes of a domestic double alive, with the Hoops already preparing for an ambitious summer transfer window after taking valuable lessons from this campaign.
O’Neill will be eager to select his strongest possible lineup, but when speaking to the media on Friday ahead of the encounter, the interim boss delivered a slightly cautious fitness update on two important players.
Martin O’Neill says Kieran Tierney is nearing full Celtic fitness