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Celtic vs St Johnstone Preview

By Conall McCourt

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 27: Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates during the William Hill Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on May 27, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 27: Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates during the William Hill Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on May 27, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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Unbeaten saints look to keep their flawless start to the season going as they take on Celtic in top of the table clash on Saturday.

After the excitement and glamour of the midweek Champions League draw, its back to business for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side as they prepare to face “tough” St Johnstone team.

Central defender Jozo Simunovic faces a race against time to be fit for the clash at Parkhead having missed the last two games due to injury. The 6.3′ Croat trained on Friday for the first time since picking up the knock against Astana.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Lionel Messi of Barcelona vies with Jozo Simunovic of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and FC Barcelona at Celtic Park Stadium on November 23, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Lionel Messi of Barcelona vies with Jozo Simunovic of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and FC Barcelona at Celtic Park Stadium on November 23, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /

Fellow defenders Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko remain out through injury. Joining them on Celtic’s ever growing injury list is Koassi Eboue and Moussa Dembele, the latter of which is said to be close to returning to training.

St. Johnstone

Tommy Wright’s St. Johnstone side have made a superb start to the season, winning all three games for the first time in the top flight in club history.

Wright is set to hand a debut to Denny Johnstone, who recently signed for the Saints on a season long loan from English Football League side Colchester United. Midfielder Blair Alston, however, remains sidelined through injury.

The Saints will be hoping on loan Rangers striker Michael O’Halloran continues his early season form having bagged four goals in the first three games for his new club. The Ibrox exile may become a permanent fixture in Saints side after Pedro Caixinha today revealed that O’Halloran is “not his type of player”… whatever that means.

Match details:

Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow

When: Saturday August 26nd 3:00pm BST/ 8:00am ET

How to watch/listen

  • Celtic TV (USA/International)
  • BBC Radio Scotland 810MW
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 19: A general view of the stadium prior to kickoff during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Celtic Park on October 19, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 19: A general view of the stadium prior to kickoff during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Celtic Park on October 19, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /

Need to know

  • Both Celtic and St Johnstone are unbeaten in the first three games of the season with the Saints sitting behind the hoops in the table on goal difference.
  • St Johnstone were the last team to beat Celtic in the league.

Next: Andy Coppens looks at the reaction to Celtic's Champions League draw

  • Celtic are currently on a 42 game unbeaten streak in the premiership. Their last defeat came last season at McDairmuid Park as the Celts went down 2-1.
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