Preview: Celtic v Dundee United

Preview: Celtic v Dundee United March 11 2008

Celtic full-back Lee Naylor has returned to training ahead of Wednesday's visit of Dundee United after missing the cup draw at Aberdeen through illness.

Skipper Stephen McManus has also seen his health pick up after playing through the Scottish Cup quarter-final with a virus.

And midfielder Scott Brown returns from suspension for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash.

Dundee United boss Craig Levein will shuffle his pack for the second match running.

However, Levein, who successfully made changes for the win over Gretna on Thursday, has insisted United will not have one eye on Sunday's CIS Insurance Cup final clash against the other half of the Old Firm.

With his loan deal at Tannadice making no mention of matches against his permanent employers, Celt Jim O'Brien is set to be in the Tangerines line-up and Danny Swanson and Danny Grainger - who like O'Brien are cup-tied for the date with Rangers - should return.

Lee Wilkie, midfielder Mark Kerr and wide man Craig Conway, none of whom were involved in the team who began against Gretna, could all figure.

"I have some players who need a game, others who could do with a break and some who are cup-tied and with most of the squad available I have options," said Levein.

"When everyone is fit we have a decent squad and I can't really think of a time when I brought people into the team and they have not performed, so making changes does not worry me."

And while the fans are already talking about the Hampden trip, the manager is focusing on important business across Glasgow first.

"We have two massive games. The importance of the final needs no explanation and against Celtic as hard as it will be, if we win I believe we will have secured our place in the top six and that makes this extremely important."

The only unavailable United players are long-term absentees Jon Daly, Steven Robb and Keith Watson.

Squads

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Naylor, O'Dea, Caldwell, McManus, S Brown, Donati, Sno, Hartley, Nakamura, Robson, McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Samaras, Riordan, M Brown.

Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Grainger, Flood, Kerr, Gomis, Swanson, O'Brien, Hunt, De Vries, McLean, Robertson, Conway, Kenneth, Buaben, Odhiambo.



More News