Celtic

Forgotten Celtic winger Luis Palma has revealed he wishes for a ‘second chance’ upon the expiry of his loan deal with Lech Poznan. The Honduran fell out of then manager Brendan Rodgers’ plans after the Northern Irishman signed him in 2023, despite an encouraging start which seen the 26-year-old net against Atletico Madrid and Feyenoord. And off the back of a fine season in Poland, Palma hopes his form can be transferred back with him to Parkhead. He told De La Rocha: “I had a great time at Celtic, I really enjoyed it. “I’d like a second chance. I’m still under contract with them, I’m still part of the club, and if they say I need to come back, I’ll do my very best.” Palma was forced into a squad number change to 77 when Celtic gave his number 7 jersey to a returning Jota in January last year when he was shipped on loan to Olympiacos. And when the Greek giants refused to take up their option to buy on the attacker, Poznan swooped in this summer and have a £3.5m option to sign Palma, which would smash their transfer record. With talks reportedly underway within Poznan to sign Palma and make a quick flip for profit, manger Niels Frederiksen is not deterred by his loanee’s comments. He said: “For me, his recent words weren’t a big deal. He remains a Celtic player, so he has to be loyal to them in some way. “What matters to me is that he gives everything he has to help us. There will be time to decide on his future and, in my opinion, he is also quite happy in Poznan.” Palma has scored seven times in all competitions for Lech Poznan this season, who sit three points clear at top of the Ekstraklasa with eight games to go.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor says that his side have to win at least ‘five or six’ of their remaining seven Premiership fixtures to have any hope of defending their league crown. The title holders’ grip on the trophy loosened after a 2-0 defeat at Dundee United on Sunday, plighting them five points behind leaders Hearts and two behind second placed Rangers. And experienced McGregor calls on composure from everyone from a Celtic standpoint. The 32-year-old said: “We know where we are and I think now is the time for calm heads. “I get that it is emotional, people will be emotional and angry about the result, none more so than the players. It’s their life, what they give to the game and what they give to the club. “But in a time like this, you need to be calm. We have been here many, many times.” It is the eighth time Celtic have suffered defeat in the league this season, and no team have ever won the league with as many losses inflicted. McGregor believes however that the league is still there to be won. “You don’t want to lose football games, but there is still so much football to be played. “The top five teams are really competitive, so there’s points to play for there. “We’ll see if we need to win them all [remaining fixtures] or not, but I think we have to go on a run. “Certainly, you’ve got to win at least five or six to have a good chance.” Celtic’s title hopes hang in the balance of a unique three-horse-race, and McGregor feels that his club’s drop in standard is the reason for the title tug-of-war being so tight this campaign. “I think we’ve probably manufactured it ourselves a wee bit, if I’m being honest. “Now there’s a big challenge. We’ve had tight ones over the years, but probably only two teams going for it. “Now there’s obviously three and you have to be competitive in every game.” Celtic’s next fixture is another trip to Dundee after the International break, facing the dark blue side of Tannadice Street in a game which could see the Glasgow giants lose their fourth game in the city of Dundee this season.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel fears he may never play football again after being told of the recovery time for his persistent shoulder injury. The Danish international faces 10-12 months out of action, which would see him out beyond the expiry of his Celtic deal, expiring this summer. It also means he misses a potential World Cup this summer, and the 39-year-old is under no illusions of the stark reality ahead of him. He told CBS last night: “I’m going to need two surgeries to fix my shoulder. “I’ve torn the bicep, torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum. Everything is gone. “It’s like an outfielder doing his ACL and achilles at the same time. It’s looking like 10-12 months of rehab.” Schmeichel wouldn’t be back in action until after his 40th birthday, and likely without a club if Celtic now choose not to extend his contract at Parkhead. “I could’ve potentially played my last ever football game. “I’ve been a footballer since the day I was born, that kind of thought is devastating. It’s very hard to wrap my head around at the moment. “By the time I get back fit I could be plus 40. “I’m going to give it everything I can to see if I can get back. It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could ever get back from an injury like this.” The former Premier League winner’s last game in the sticks came in a 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian last month.

Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo hopes his time in the starting eleven won’t be ending anytime soon after he kept a clean sheet in a penalty shootout Scottish Cup victory at Ibrox. The Finnish international has started the last four games in place of an injured Kasper Schmeichel, all of which coming away to Stuttgart, Aberdeen and Rangers twice, with the Parkhead side coming through them all unscathed and kept two clean sheets in the process. And the 24-year-old hopes to remain in the net for this Saturday’s contest against Motherwell at Celtic Park. He told Celtic TV: “I’m loving every moment of it. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, play, like every footballer does, I’ve loved every single minute of it. “So yeah, hopefully more to come.” Despite being brought in as Schmeichel’s backup from Aston Villa in 2024, Sunday marked Sinisalo’s third derby match against Rangers, all occurring away from home and all three ending as a draw in regulated time. The former Exeter player of the season admits that its s a ‘funny’ record that he wants to maintain. “I suppose it is what every footballer wants to do, we want to play in the biggest games, which that fixture [vs Rangers] certainly is. “It’s the games you come here and really want to be a part of, and hopefully I can stay unbeaten. “That’s funny to hear, and obviously I’m just there to do my best for the team and if we manage to pick up results on the way, I’m happy with that.” Celtic return to their home turf for the visit of Motherwell on Saturday, and Sinisalo is prepared for his own first game in Glasgow’s East End since February. “It’s been a hectic last four games for everyone, a lot of travel, a lot of overnight stays, a lot of hotels and stuff. “It’s great to get home, especially after such a positive run of four games. We’ve just got to kick on, you’re only as good as your next game. “That’s how football goes, and we know how big these games are for us. We’ve got nine league games left, and hopefully a couple more in the cup. “We’ll be fighting and I’m sure we will be fighting right to the very end.” Celtic sit second in the league, five points off of leaders Hearts, one point ahead of third-placed Rangers, and five in front of Saturday’s guests Motherwell as the league takes its fourth last stop before a split for the ages.