Beattie to start for Celtic

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will give Craig Beattie a start in attack alongside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for the home Bank of Scotland Premier League clash with St Mirren today.

Beattie replaces Maciej Zurawski who dropped to the bench, while midfielder Aiden McGeady comes in for Evander Sno who also starts as substitute.

Jiri Jarosik is moved into the centre of midfield with Republic of Ireland international McGeady starting on the left.

St Mirren show three changes from the side which lost their Scottish Cup third-round tie against Dundee United in midweek.

Goalkeeper Chris Smith replaces Tony Bullock, who was out of the squad altogether, while John Potter and John Sutton are dropped to the bench, their places taken by Alan Reid and Stephen McGinn.

Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Pressley, O’Dea, Naylor, Nakamura, Gravesen, Jarosik, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Beattie.

Replacements: Brown, Miller, Zurawski, Sno, Riordan, Conroy, Cuthbert.

St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Millen, Maxwell, Broadfoot, Brady, McGinn, Brittain, Lappin, Reid, Corcoran.

Replacements: Hinchcliffe, McGowne, Potter, Sutton, Kean, McKenna, Gemmill.

Referee: C Thomson (Scotland).