Celtic v Hibs: Team News, Match Officials, KO time and Where to Watch

Celtic face Hibernian on Saturday as Ange Postecoglou’s side return to Cinch Premiership duties after the Scottish Cup win against Hearts in Edinburgh last weekend. Lee Johnson’s team have had ten days to prepare for this match but will arrive at Celtic Park on the back of a demoralising 4-1 home defeat against theRangers. However, given that they are still chasing Hearts for a third placed finish, they will be fired up ahead of their trip to Celtic Park.

Celtic plan to wear their new limited edition kit so will not be in the Hoops but instead on the St Patrick’s Day weekend will be giving a well deserved nod to our club’s Irish roots and brilliant Irish fan-base who make more effort than most to get over to Paradise to support the Bhoys.

Celtic will ensure that the nine points advantage remains at the very least with a victory and will also be eager to maintain the 100% domestic record at home this season.

Team News

Celtic go into the final game before the International break with a few injury concerns. Carl Starfelt’s hip flexor flared up during the warm-up at Tynecastle but the big Swede was able to put in a composed 45 minutes before being substituted as not to aggravate the injury. The Sweden manager Janne Andersson has included Starfelt in his squad for their Euro Qualifiers against Belgium and Azerbaijan after first checking on the central defender’s fitness situation with Celtic.

Ange Postecoglou though may well be tempted to retain Yuki Kobayashi in the starting eleven after the left-sided Japanese defender’s impressive second half performance at Tynecastle last Saturday.

Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers are both carrying knocks that have kept them out of their respective international squads and while Carter-Vickers is likely to start tomorrow, Ange Postecoglou might opt to start Alexandro Bernabei at left-back as he did against Hearts in the league match last Wednesday night, although he did indicate this afternoon that Taylor will play tomorrow.

Ange confirmed today that Starfelt, Taylor and Cart-Vickers are all fit and will play tomorrow.

James Forrest, who scored a hat-trick the last time the teams met at Celtic Park is ruled out with a knock and is not expected back until after the International break. Daizen Maeda is working his way back from picking up a knock in the midweek league win over Hearts. The Japanese attacker was included in the International squad for their upcoming games, suggesting that he’s made a full recovery and will likely be involved at the weekend. And Ange confirmed today that Daizen Maeda is fit and should feature tomorrow.

Jota of Celtic evades Orestis Kiomourtzoglou and Jorge Grant of Hearts during the Heart of Midlothian v Celtic Scottish Cup match at Tynecastle Stadium on March 11, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The manager is set to give Matt O’Riley a start with Aaron Mooy and Tomoki Iwata both missing out so the Danish Under 21 international will start. And it’s also going to be a close call choosing, from Maeda,  Liel Abada and Sead Hakšabanović and if it’s Maeda or Hakšabanović then that would see Jota, who spoke to the media from Lennoxtown this afternoon, playing on the right wing.

Predicted XI: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley; Jota, Kyogo, Maeda.

Match Officials

Referee Steven McLean (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Steven McLean is the man in the middle for the game. McLean is assisted by Frank Connors and Michael Banks. Grant Irvine is on Fourth Official Duties. Gavin Duncan is on ludge-VAR duties at Clydesdale House, assisted by Graham Chambers.

Kick Off Time

The Celtic v Hibs match kicks off at 3pm (Celtic Park Time).

Where to Watch

The game will be shown on Celtic TV for subscribers outside of Britain and Ireland.

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About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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