Glenn Loovens will miss Celtic’s SPL match against Motherwell due to suspension after losing his appeal against a red card this week. Gary Caldwell is expected to replace the Dutchman and partner Steven McManus in the Celtic defence.
Andreas Hinkel and Danny Fox have been recovering from injury but Tony Mowbray has suggested he will not risk either player and allow them to make a full recovery in time for Thursday’s Europa League match against Hamburg at Parkhead. Mark Wilson and lee Naylor will continue in the full-back positions.
Mowbray is likely to be able to call upon Scott Brown after the midfielder saw a specialist about his ankle injury during the international break.
Motherwell travel to Parkhead without Shaun Hutchinson and Paul Slane. Hutchinson has suffered a setback in his attempt to come back from an ankle injury while Slane requires another operation on a lower leg complaint.
Jim O’Brien is available for Jim Gannon’s squad after being stretchered off against Falkirk but Stevie Hammell has a hamstring injury and is considered a doubt for the game.
The match will be refereed by Chris Boyle, assisted by Keith Sorbie and Chris Young.
Celtic could start the match having slipped to second place in the SPL if Rangers win at St Johnstone. Motherwell are currently in fifth place but could move as high as third depending on other results.
Provisional Celtic squad: Boruc, Naylor, Caddis, Wilson, McManus, Brown, McGeady, Zheng, McCourt, N'Guemo, Samaras, McDonald, Maloney, Caldwell, Crosas, Zaluska, Forrest, Robson.
Provisional Motherwell squad: Ruddy, Moutaouakil, Hammell, Craigan, Reynolds, Saunders, Hateley, Forbes, Coke, Humphrey, Murphy, Jutkiewicz, O'Brien, Sutton, Lasley, Jennings, McGarry, Fraser.
