Bhoys buoyed by Beattie

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has been boosted by the return to training of Craig Beattie ahead of the Bank of Scotland Premier League trip to Aberdeen on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Scotland striker, who injured a hamstring last October, will not travel north with the champions, but has made his first steps towards a comeback after a seven-month lay-off.

Midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is still carrying a knock which kept him out of the midweek win over Kilmarnock and Alan Thompson has a leg strain, but both should be fit.

Provisional squad: Marshall, Wilson, Varga, McManus, Wallace, Virgo, McGeady, Nakamura, Maloney, Keane, Petrov, Thompson, Zurawski, Dublin, Pearson, Boruc, Telfer, Lennon.