BROONIE'S BACK | Scotzine

CELTIC skipper Scott Brown will return from his one-game suspension for tonight’s Premiership clash with Partick Thistle at Celtic Park.

The Hoops midfielder missed the 2-1 home victory over Dundee on Saturday after going through the disciplinary points threshold.

Brendan Rodgers will assess midfielder Tom Rogic, who has an ankle knock, while winger James Forrest (hamstring) and left-back Kieran Tierney (ankle) remain sidelined.

The champions’ gaffer has also said he could field a few of the club’s top babes against the Jags, who they beat 4-1 at Firhill 11 days ago.

Celtic’s provisional squad reads: Gordon, Lustig, Gamboa, Izaguirre, Toure, Sviatchenko, Simunovic, O’Connell, Sinclair, Brown, Bitton, Armstrong, Rogic, Roberts, Dembele, Ciftci, Griffiths, Christie, McGregor, Mackay-Steven and De Vries.

Alan Archibald has doubts over Adam Barton and Danny Devine. The defenders picked up knocks in the 1-1 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle.

Mustapha Dumbuya (Achilles), Ryan Scully (shoulder), Stuart Bannigan and Gary Fraser (both knee) are all still out.

Jags squad: Cerny, Elliott, Booth, Lindsay, Devine, Barton, Osman, Welsh, Erskine, Amoo, Doolan, Azeez, Lawless, Wilson, Gordon, Edwards, McDaid, Syme, Penrice, Stuckmann.

Archibald, meanwhile, insisted it’s now impossible to get the Hoops support to turn on their heroes – because of Rodgers.

The Irishman’s record-breaking start to his Parkhead career has seen them qualify for the Champions League, lift the Betfred League Cup and race clear at the top of the table with two games in hand in their pursuit of their sixth successive crown.

Rodgers’ team can go 14 points ahead with a win over the Maryhill men. Archibald said: “If you keep it close, what with them going for a record as well, maybe that will bring nervousness.

“They’re desperate to go unbeaten and that will bring a bit of strain as well. Do they go and keep on battering teams as they used to do or do they hold off and keep things tight?

“I don’t think you can turn the crowd because Brendan has got them all behind him, if anything it just goes a little bit quiet.

“As long as you stay in the game you can get at every team and set-plays are a big part of that.”

Jags winger Christie Elliott admits his side might need to score four just to snatch a draw. He said: “Celtic have been brilliant this season, but teams have created chances against them.

“They can be got at it. It’s just a matter of taking those chances and trying to hold on.

“I’ve enjoyed watching Celtic. They have a new style under Rodgers and they attack more.

“If we can keep it tight then, hopefully, we can cause problems. The first 15 minutes are always important at Celtic Park as you know they will come out really quickly.

“But if we can get past that spell at 0-0, then we can start to create.

“Motherwell scored three against them and still lost. Do we need to score four to get a point? Maybe!”

BROONIE’S BACK

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