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THE BIG STORY: Celtic return to training today after the international break, with Saturday’s game against Dundee the first of seven games in twenty days which include a Champions League double header against Bayern Munich, the Betfred Cup semi-final against Hibs and a top of the table trip to Pittodrie. Despite the volume of games, Craig Gordon is looking forward to the hectic schedule.
With so many fixtures and with players just returning from international duty I would expect changes for Saturday’s game, as it is probably the least important of the three games we have in the next week. We’ll hopefully hear from Brendan Rodgers today and we’ll have more on the Dundee game tomorrow.
OTHER NEWS: The big event of today is the SFA ‘meeting’ that will discuss the future of national team manager Gordon Strachan. Rumours are suggesting that Scott Brown intends to keep playing for Scotland if Strachan stays on, so let’s hope he leaves then!
In all probability Strachan will probably be kept on for the Euro 2020 campaign, as the SFA hierarchy no doubt think that he was ‘improved’ the national side, despite Scotland failing to qualify for yet another tournament.
ON THIS DAY: In 1996, ten men Celtic defeated Motherwell 1-0 thanks to a last minute Pierre Van Hooijdonk goal. Pierre, who had fallen out with Tommy Burns and Fergus McCann the previous month, scored the late winner with a trademark header. Celtic had been reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Gordon Marshall was sent-off for a last man foul outside the box, he was replaced in goal by debutant Stewart Kerr.
In 1991 Celtic defeated Dundee United 4-1 at Celtic Park, with a brace from Charlie Nicholas, Tommy Coyne and a rocket from Mark Galloway scoring the goals. Full match highlights are below.