Double boost hopes for Hoops

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is hoping for a double Old Firm boost by welcoming Chris Sutton and Maciej Zurawski back for the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash with Rangers at Parkhead.

Sutton has not played since the win at Dundee United on October 30, but is back in contention after shaking off a problem behind his knee.

Zurawski has not featured since the 5-0 victory at Livingston seven weeks ago after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with Poland in the World Cup qualifying defeat by England.

But he has returned to training this week and is keen to return.

Strachan said: “We are hoping, maybe, Zurawski and Chris can get back into the fold.

“We did not want to push Maciej. He did his first training session on Thursday, so we will see how he gets o.

“Chris is ready to give it a go. He is a huge player for us, so we will give him every chance to be fit for this game.”

Strachan will also assess the fitness of Shunsuke Nakamura, Stilian Petrov, Bobo Balde, Artur Boruc and Shaun Maloney who have all returned from international duty.

The Hoops boss added: “I have not seen them yet. I have not seen Stilian Petrov since the final whistle last Wednesday (after the CIS Insurance Cup win over Rangers). Shaun Maloney is fine.”

Provisional squad: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Camara, Petrov, Lennon, Hartson, Nakamura, Agathe, Maloney, Marshall, Virgo, McGeady, Wallace, Lawson, Pearson, Varga, Thompson, Sutton, Zurawski.