Soccer: Kharine wanted for cup semi-final

Celtic goalkeeper Dmitri Kharine is poised for a sensational return to first team football with Livingston - in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Russian international has not featured for the Hoops since March last year, before he ruptured his cruciate knee ligament in a freak accident during the 2-1 defeat at Hibernian.

But Livingston general manager Jim Leishman is desperate for goalkeeping cover, as Neil Alexander is out through injury and Ian McCaldon twisted his knee this week.

However, Leishman admits that he could miss out on Kharine as the former Chelsea keeper is also struggling with injury.

"Dmitri might have a calf problem. I have got a problem but we are going to solve that problem," said Leishman.

"Hopefully, we can get him for training tomorrow but, if not, we will try someone else.

"The first problem came when Neil Alexander broke two fingers before the Peterhead tie.

"We were quite comfortable at that stage because we had Ian as back-up and youngster Dave McEwan.

"But against Ross County on Saturday, Ian made a save and twisted his knee. We took him off at half-time as a precaution.

"He was responding to treatment earlier in the week but in the warm-up today he felt the twist again and he said that he did not feel he was going to make it on Saturday.

"We phoned Martin O'Neill at Celtic and explained the situation to him. Martin was magnificent and said he would speak to Dmitri Kharine and we are waiting on word if he can play.

"We have asked the SFA and the SFL for dispensation and there is a small technical problem but SPL secretary Iain Blair is speaking to his board and they are trying to solve that problem for us.

"The problem is that he could not play for Celtic for the rest of the season."