Hogh and Tierney close to Celtic return for St Johnstone clash

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Kieran Tierney (left) and Kasper Hogh (right) could return for Celtic at St Johnstone on Wednesday (20:00 BST)

• Published2 minutes ago

Manager Martin O’Neill has confirmed Celtic duo Kasper Hogh and Kieran Tierney could play a part in Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership match at St Johnstone as the pair close in on returns from injury.

Denmark striker Hogh, who became the Scottish champions’ record signing this summer, has not played since the second leg of Celtic’s Champions League play-off defeat against LASK on 25 August.

Scotland defender Tierney missed the wins against Aberdeen and St Mirren.

“We’ve had Kasper back the last couple of days and Kieran did a little bit of work with us [on Tuesday] morning, so we’ll have a look to see how they are,” O’Neill said.

“We’ve got a couple of other fitness issues for players but we’ll try and go as strong as we possibly can.”

On whether he is hopeful Hogh and Tierney could play some part on Wednesday, O’Neill added: “Yeah, obviously Kasper’s had the extra day, we’ll see how they are [on Wednesday].”

• How much will Celtic miss Asian Games-bound Yang?

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  • Published18 June 2023

‘Exceptional’ Yang a ‘big miss’ for Celtic

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In the absence of Hogh, who has scored three times in five Celtic appearances since joining from Bodo/Glimt, fellow big-money summer arrival Camilo Duran has excelled playing at centre-forward.

The Colombian has netted six goals in eight matches this term but, when asked about whether Hogh’s return would mean Duran moving back out to a wide area, O’Neill said “it’s a matter of trying to get your best players on the field”.

The Celtic boss will be without winger Yang Hyun-jun for the encounter with St Johnstone as the South Korea international takes part in the Asian Games.

O’Neill says the 24-year-old, who will be absent for his club’s next four matches, will be a “big miss”, with two derby meetings against Rangers to come either side of a Europa League opener with Ferencvaros following Wednesday’s action.

“He’s playing exceptionally well for what he does with the ball,” the veteran manager said of Yang. “It’s terrific, he’s scored a couple of very important goals for us.

“And what he’s doing without the ball, I don’t think anybody could question his work rate for us at the football club. He’s been great but he’s been great since I’ve come in here.”

Celtic are on the road again on Sunday when they make the short trip to Govan to face their city rivals at Ibrox (12:00 BST).

However, O’Neill would not allow himself to be distracted by his side’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final and insists Wednesday’s game holds more significance.

The 74-year-old added: “I genuinely can’t [have one eye on it] and that’s honestly where I think, first of all, we have to play our game.

“We have to try and defend a title. We have to try and win a football match.

“And to me, this game is far more important than Sunday’s match.”