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
Kasper Schmeichel, who had missed recent training sessions after receiving an injection, returned to full training on Friday for the first time since his treatment.
O’Neill confirmed the goalkeeper will be evaluated again on Saturday before a final decision is made regarding his availability.
More significantly, the Celtic boss revealed that Kieran Tierney is also a slight doubt, though there remains a possibility he could feature.
The Scotland full-back picked up a foot problem, but O’Neill indicated that the issue is improving, with the main concern now being the overall soreness that has built up around it.
O’Neill explained that Tierney is approaching “almost complete fitness” ahead of the Rangers encounter and, depending on how he responds to a final check, he could be involved.
“Kieran (Tierney), for a start, although he had an injury to his foot, it is actually clearing up,” O’Neill said.
“He’s just generally sore in every aspect, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow (Saturday).
“But generally speaking, he has done so well, which is fabulous for us, and he is now getting back to almost complete fitness, which is great. That’s good.”
Overall, the update appears more encouraging than worrying.
Tierney has been among Celtic’s most reliable performers whenever available this season.
His goal in the win against Aberdeen earlier in the week served as another reminder of his quality and his importance to what O’Neill is trying to build during the final stages of the campaign.
A fully fit Tierney at Ibrox would provide a major boost, while his absence would represent a notable setback.
Saturday’s fitness assessment will ultimately determine the outcome.