Celtic dropped points for the first time since January as Stuart Kettlewell’s Motherwell held the Scottish Champions to a draw yesterday. Callum McGregor’s first half strike was cancelled out by Kevin Van Veen’s effort with Ange’s team missing a number of good chances to win the game.

Next weekend brings the Scottish Cup Semi Final against theRangers at Hampden with a Celtic victory in that game bringing a treble within touching distance. And despite having over a week to prepare, Ange Postecoglou made full use of the opportunity yesterday afternoon after the match  by ordering the first team squad, minus those that started the game to carry out a training session on the Celtic Park pitch.

After players had completed their lap of the pitch, supporters had gone home and Motherwell had done their warm down. Gavin Strachan emerged from the tunnel with a bag of balls. While he set up, Harry Kewell then entered the pitch as it became clear that something was afoot.

The Celtic squad then emerged, minus those that started the game. Subs Oh, Aaron Mooy, David Turnbull and Rocco Vata were all present as it looked as if Ange had planned to make the most of the day in preparation for the Cup Semi next weekend.

A small sided pitch was created at the Celtic end with cones down the right hand side. The players came out in bibs, already seemingly having been allocated teams. Liel Abada was present, he looked fit and lively during the exercise. This will give the manager another option ahead of next week.

Conspicuous by their absence though were the likes of Reo Hatate, Jota and James Forrest.  It’s unlikely that James Forrest will be rushed back, indeed he might now be looking at a return after the summer break, but for Celtic supporters everywhere, we’ll be hoping for good news this week on both Hatate and Jota for next weekend. Maybe their absence from yesterday’s post match training session was nothing more than Ange giving them the day off? Let’s hope so.

The drill looked to be based around finishing in tight spaces, something that the team struggled with in the draw earlier that day. Players like James McCarthy, Bosun Lawal and Conor Hazard who weren’t in the team were present which suggests that it was a pre-arranged exercise as the Celts make the most of what could be a season defining week.

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