SPL: Sutton winning fitness race for final

Chris Sutton is winning his battle to be fit for Celtic's Tennent's Scottish Cup final clash with Rangers on May 4.

He returned to the side for the game against Livingston, but suffered a recurrence of his ankle problem in that game. Sutton missed the matches with Dunfermline and Sunday's 1-1 league draw with Rangers.

But the Parkhead medical team are happy with the way he is progressing and expect him to make his return to training later this week.

His comeback could ease manager Martin O'Neill's selection problems ahead of this weekend's Scottish Premier League trip to Hearts with John Hartson, Johan Mjallby, Paul Lambert, Bobo Balde and Joos Valgaeren all set to be missing.

But it is unlikely O'Neill will risk Sutton with little to play for and would rather wrap him in cotton wool ahead of the Hampden Park showdown.