Maloney out of Old Firm clash

Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney is out of the crucial Old Firm clash at Ibrox on December 27 after suffering a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with Hearts at Parkhead.

The champions were trailing to an Andrew Driver goal when Maloney limped off to be replaced by Georgios Samaras, who set up Stephen McManus' late equaliser which maintains Celtic's four-point lead over rivals Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan seemed resigned to seeing the former Aston Villa player on the sidelines well into the New Year.

"He just pulled up. It's a hamstring and not very good," Strachan said.