Bhoys Ready for Dees Visit
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Kyogo's stunning volley set the Bhoys on the way to a 1-0 win in their last game before the break


Celtic Park, Glasgow
Saturday, 16 September 2023
15.00 BST​

Celtic return to League action following the International break. when they welcome the recently promoted Dundee side to Paradise this weekend.

The Bhoys will be keen to build on their derby win success from just before the break, which resulted in them sitting atop the league table - albeit still very early in the season and no silverware is handed out in September.

The break would've been a welcome one for Brendan Rodgers, who will have had time to help integrate the new signings into the squad as well as given time for a few of those forced to sit out at Ipox, to get closer to making a return from injury.

And according to the manager that is exactly what has happened, with the Irishman quoted as saying "The squad is looking healthier and as we go forward hopefully the return of more of these players will be really good for us.”


Liam Scales put in a highly impressive man of the match performance against Sevco

Meanwhile, Tony Docharty will be reasonably pleased with the steady start his own side has made in the early part of this, his first season as a manager in his own right.

Docherty has seen his newly promoted Dens Park outfit take all the points in their meeting against Hearts before the break, in addition to picking up draws against both Motherwell and St Johnstone, while managing to score in all 4 of their league matches so far and have not let going behind on the scoreboard dampen their belief to get something from these games.

While some may be tempted to look beyond Dundee in anticipation of the return of Champions League action against Feyenoord next week, Rodgers will be keen to stress the importance of every game to be taken on it's merits and that will certainly be the case on Saturday.

After all, nothing to be taken for granted, especially with the memory of the underwhelming draw with St Johnstone still fresh in the memory.​

By the Numbers​

• Celtic are undefeated in the last 46 home games in the league, since January 2021.

• The Bhoys have won the last 6 straight meetings between these sides.

• Celtic have been undefeated by Dundee, home or away, since May 2001.

• It's early days but going behind has not daunted Dundee, who have managed to claw back and claim a point each time that has happened this season.

Gone Bhoy Giakoumakis scored a hatrick including a late winner when these sides last met

Team News

There will likely be some changes to the starting XI, with Brendan Rodgers perhaps looking to infuse some of the recent summer additions and potentially those returning from injury lay-off's.

The Bhoys will continue to be without Liel Abada (thigh strain) alongside Maik Nawrocki (hamstring), Stephen Welsh (ankle) and Mikey Johnston (back).

Elsewhere, Marco Tilio and Cameron Carter-Vickers are working their way back to full fitness, however are not expected to make a full return til early October, while on a brighter note Reo Hatate has returned to full training and could be in contention, as is Nate Phillips, who could be in line to make his debut having been short of match fitness prior to his arrival.

As for the Dark Blues, Aaron Donnelly and Charlie Reilly are back in contention, however TYony Docherty will be without the services of Mexican defender, Antonio Portales, who sustained a knee injury on debut, just before the Intermational break.

Referee: Grant Irvine

Irvine has 23 Premiership matches to his credit since making his debut at this level in January 2021. This, however, will be his first time officiating Celtic in any competition.

Celtic's Overall Record
M: 0 W: 0 D: 0 L: 0

VAR: Steven Kirkland​

~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 254 W: 151 D: 60 L: 43​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W W W

~~~~ 2023/24 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W D L W W ~ D W L D W

SPFL
W D W W ~ D W L D​