Strachan makes four changes for Celtic

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan made four changes as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders faced Hearts at Tynecastle today.

Two were enforced as Lee Naylor and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink came in for the injured Darren O’Dea and Georgios Samaras.

Strachan also gave an indication of the threat imposed by third-placed Hearts by steeling his midfield with Gary Caldwell and Willo Flood, and dropping Shunsuke Nakamura and Marc Crosas to the bench.

Glenn Loovens replaced Caldwell in central defence while Shaun Maloney was a surprise inclusion on the bench after overcoming a serious hamstring problem.

Hearts were unchanged from the team that beat Kilmarnock 3-1 as Calum Elliot was rewarded for his double with another starting slot up front.

Hearts: Balogh, Neilson, Zaliukas, Karipidis, Lee Wallace, Obua, Aguiar, Palazuelos, Stewart, Driver, Elliot.

Subs: MacDonald, Tullberg, Nade, Cesnauskis, Jonsson, Park, Templeton.

Celtic: Boruc, Caldwell, McManus, Loovens, Naylor, Hinkel, Flood, Scott Brown, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, McDonald.

Subs: Mark Brown, Ferry, Misun, Maloney, Mizuno, Crosas, Nakamura.

Referee: C Thomson (Scotland)