Celtic land injury boost ahead of Rangers but Kelechi Iheanacho doubts remain and striker gets op date booked
Japanese forward will be fit for Old Firm derby
Celtic will be able to call upon Daizen Maeda for Sunday’s Old Firm clash against Rangers after the forward recovered from a foot injury.
The in-form Maeda limped off after Celtic’s 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road last weekend, sparking concerns that he may not be available for the final games of the season. However, manager Martin O’Neill confirmed that the Japanese will take his place in the team for the visit of Rangers.
“Daizen hurt himself towards the end of the game,” explained O’Neill. “He’s fine, which is really, really good. He has trained and he has got no reaction. And so he’s going to be fine. He’s had a super couple of weeks.
“We have had a couple of issues with player fitness during the course of the season, the likes of Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. The last thing you want is to be going into a game like this worrying about the fitness of three or four of your team.
“Whatever substitutions you are making, it could be because of fitness rather than doing something more tactical. But the players are getting there.”
O’Neill admitted that he is, however, have to manage the fitness of striker Kelechi Iheanacho. The Nigerian came off the bench once again to score the winner against Hibs, but there are reservations as to whether he can start matches.
“He is a player I have to manage,” said O’Neill. “Kelechi is itching to start games. He’s had a major impact coming on but sometimes it might not happen like that.
“He did start against Dundee United at Tannadice. I thought it was the thing to do but he didn’t see the game out. He might come in the game and not make an impact, but that might not be his fault.
“It’s a balancing act and you have to think about it. There is a thought about starting him, but knowing that he probably wouldn’t see it through. But you never know, he might start on Sunday.”
Celtic go into this weekend three points behind Premiership leaders Hearts. They will definitely be without on-loan striker Tomas Cvancara, who will have surgery on a groin issue next week. Callum Osmand, though, has an outside chance of making it after months sidelined by a torn hamstring.
“Callum Osmand is doing very well,” added O’Neill. “He has only played 45 minutes of a B team game but he’s trained with us and is doing fine. At some stage, I want to try to find a place for him to at least make an impact coming on again.”
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