The Scottish Premiership heats up this Sunday as Celtic travel to Edinburgh for a high-stakes clash against Hibernian at Easter Road. With both teams dealing with key absences, this match promises to be a thrilling test of depth and determination.
Celtic currently sit second in the table with 70 points, just three points behind league leaders Hearts. A win here could tighten the title race, but the Hoops face their own injury challenges. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, leaving Viljami Sinisalo to guard the net. The defensive line is also missing Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) and Julian Araujo (thigh), while attackers Jota and Colby Donovan are out with knee and hamstring issues, respectively. Callum Osmand and Adam Montgomery are also unavailable, expected back in late May. However, there's a boost as Alistair Johnston returns from injury and may start on the bench.
On the bright side, Celtic's attack looks sharp. In-form Daizen Maeda will lead the line alongside James Forrest and Benjamin Nygren. With no fresh injuries reported after their victory over Falkirk, manager Martin O'Neill can field a settled, though thin, matchday squad determined to close the gap at the top.
Hibernian enters this fixture at a disadvantage, severely hampered by a wave of suspensions following a disciplinary meltdown in the recent Edinburgh derby. Manager David Gray will be forced to reshape his defense as Raphael Sallinger, Felix Passlack, and Grant Hanley all serve bans—Sallinger and Passlack due to red cards. This paves the way for Jordan Smith and youngster Kanayochukwu Megwa to step into the starting lineup.
Injury-wise, the Hibees remain without Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) and Munashe Garananga (hamstring). There's a slight boost, however, as midfielder Josh Mulligan has returned to training after an ankle problem and may feature on the bench. Hibernian's recent form has been inconsistent, following a stretch of back-to-back losses, but they'll be eager to capitalize on home advantage against a depleted Celtic side.
With both teams battling adversity, Sunday's clash at Easter Road is set to be a gripping encounter—one that could shift the momentum in the Premiership title race.