Celtic travel to Livingston this Sunday in the Scottish Premiership as the business end of the season well and truly begins.
Reo Hatate looks like he’ll return after playing a bounce game last week but concerningly, skipper Callum McGregor was absent from the preparations this Friday.
The captain wasn’t in training and along with Brendan Rodgers, could miss the match at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
It is confirmed that the gaffer will be in the stands, leading many to debate what impact it could have on the team.
Pundit and former Hoops’ right-back Mark Wilson mirrored it to when a teacher is absent and the class is given a stand-in. “You’ll be amazed in the professional game, at the top teams, almost like when a substitute teacher is in, that some people just won’t have the same reaction”, he said (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard).
“You’d hope not, but that kind of switching off [can come into play].”
John Kennedy will be the figurehead in the dugout for Celtic for the first time since the last game of the fabled 2020/21 season.
The Celts drew 0-0 with Hibs on that day, but a win is needed this weekend if they want to keep up the pace in the title race.
