Kieran Tierney was conspicuously absent from Celtic’s squad for the match against Falkirk, raising significant fitness concerns ahead of this weekend’s crucial cup match. The 28-year-old Scotland international, who has a history of injury struggles, appeared to pull up late in Celtic’s recent defeat at Tynecastle.
O’Neill’s First Selection and Leadership Void
In interim manager Martin O’Neill’s first team selection since his return, Marcelo Saracchi was named to the starting lineup in place of the former Arsenal defender, who was not included on the bench. The absence is deeply concerning given the upcoming Premier Sports Cup Semi Final against Rangers on Sunday. Shaun Maloney had previously noted that he utilized Tierney’s leadership, alongside players like Kasper Schmeichel, Callum McGregor, and Alistair Johnston, to navigate the squad through the former manager’s sudden departure.
A Growing List of Absentees
Celtic is already grappling with a depleted squad heading into the Hampden showdown. Key first-team figures—including Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Jota—are already confirmed to be unavailable. The potential loss of Tierney would be another major blow to the team’s preparations. An update on Tierney’s status is anticipated from O’Neill following the Falkirk game.
Rangers Stumble Ahead of Semi-Final
The semi-final opponent, Rangers, is coming off a significant setback of its own. The club suffered a 2-1 defeat at home against Motherwell in their latest outing. Motherwell took an early lead through T. Bair in the 9th minute, putting immediate pressure on the home side.
Rangers vs. Motherwell Match Summary
Rangers, utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation, struggled to respond until the 60th minute, when captain James Tavernier converted a penalty. However, Motherwell secured the victory with a 75th-minute goal from D. Casey. The Rangers lineup, which included John Souttar and Connor Goldson in defense, saw several players substituted, including Nico Raskin, Ross McCausland, Dujon Sterling, and Cyriel Dessers.
