O'Dea starts at full back for Celtic

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray was forced through injury to change his side again for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

The Hoops’ boss had 10 players unavailable for the trip to Perth and with left-back Lee Naylor picking up a knock in the Active Nation Scottish Cup win at Morton in the midweek, teenager Josh Thompson was handed his first start at the centre of defence with Darren O’Dea moving to the full-back position.

St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes had Filipe Morais available after recovering from a hamstring injury but he started on the bench.

McInnes also made one change to his side, Murray Davidson coming in for Peter MacDonald, who was on the bench.

St Johnstone: Smith, Irvine, MacKay, Gartland, Grainger, Millar, Morris, Davidson, Craig, Deuchar, Milne.

Subs: Main, Anderson, Moon, Morais, MacDonald, Jackson, Reynolds.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Loovens, O’Dea, Thompson, McGinn, Crosas, Zhi, McGeady, Samaras, Fortune.

Subs: Zaluska, McCourt, Mizuno, Forrest, Caddis, McGowan, Lafferty.

Referee: W Collum (Scotland)