Celtic

Celtic’s internal ban on the ultras group ‘Green Brigade’ has been lifted and will see them back at Celtic Park on Saturday, a club statement confirms. The group were banned initially for six matches in November following an alleged incident inside Celtic Park at home to Falkirk. However, this was extended in December due to further ‘safety incidents’. With Celtic’s post-split dates confirmed, they go into the final pre-split fixture at home to St. Mirren with a full house to ramp up their bid of retaining the title. The statement reads: “The Club is pleased to confirm that a route has been found to lift the suspension of the Green Brigade with effect from Saturday’s game against St Mirren. On March 27th, at a meeting of Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group, the Club again addressed the suspension on the Green Brigade. The SAG confirmed that it did not object to the suspension being lifted, subject to three conditions being satisfied. These were that all applicable policies will be adhered to, including season ticket terms and conditions; agreement that members will comply with the safety and security operations; recognition that a match-by-match report will be submitted to the Safety Advisory Group, for as long as they deem it necessary. We communicated this to the Green Brigade and asked for their unconditional acceptance. They have today responded positively by accepting these conditions, as outlined.” Celtic interim chairman, Brian Wilson, said: “I am pleased we have reached this point where suspensions can be lifted with the agreement of Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group on terms which apply to supporters throughout the stadium. “On that basis, a full and united Celtic Park can get behind the team at this crucial point in the season.” It is doubtful that this patches up the disconnect between the ultras group and the club’s hierarchy, in a season which many fans even outside of the Green Brigade have demonstrated against the Celtic board members, notably seen in the 4-1 Europa League home defeat to Vfb Stuttgart with a tennis ball protest.  After St. Mirren, Celtic have Falkirk, Rangers and a final day clash with Hearts all at Parkhead. 

Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho says that he is ready to play his part in the title run-in after he scored the vital winner in his side’s 2-1 victory at Dundee. It was the first time this season the Parkhead club have won in the city of discovery, with Iheanacho’s match-winning strike eight minutes from time keeping Celtic within touching distance of leaders Hearts after they dropped points in a 2-2 draw away to Livingston. And the Nigerian believes he can be the man to lead the line for Celtic as he puts his injury worries behind him with the hunt for a domestic double still achievable. He said: “Yeah, I’m sure I’m fit to start games. Obviously it’s up to the manager to pick who he wants to start the games, but I’m really sure I’m perfectly okay to start games. “When you’re injured as a player, it’s obviously really difficult. Sometimes you could put your head down and all that. “Obviously you still support your team, but it’s really sad sometimes not getting on the pitch, contributing to the club that signed you.” The 29-year-old’s late strike coupled with a first half opener from Hyun-jun Yang either side of a Simon Murray penalty keeps Celtic third but just three points off of Hearts, with the defending champions expected to play the current leaders and Rangers at home in the split. And Iheanacho knows of the significance of the last few weeks of the campaign. “We just need to take it one game at a time and hopefully it will fall for us. “It [the result] was really massive for the team, where we are in the table, close to the top, so it’s massive. “It would have been scary to drop points because it would have been hard for the rest of the season. It was a great finish so I’m happy. “We need to keep winning to get to the end. Obviously it’s not been great for the past few weeks but I think we showed great character, discipline and togetherness to win the game.” It was the fourth goal from the former Manchester City attacker this season, which incredibly makes him Celtic’s highest scoring striker this season. With his current deal expiring in the summer, Iheanacho says negotiations are a second priority to the task at hand just now. “I think in terms of that [contract expiring], we’re focussing now on the games going forward. “Anything that concerns the contract will be maybe after the season, after we achieve our goals.” Celtic’s next two games are against St. Mirren in the league and then again in the Scottish Cup semi-final, with the anticipated split fixture dates set to be announced in the next few days.

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.