Celtic fit enough to last the footballing pace, says Hartley

Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley says his team mates are fit enough to last the pace as the club enters a hectic period of the season.

The Parkhead side face their fourth game in 11 days on Wednesday when they take on Kilmarnock in their Scottish Premier League clash. Celtic’s injury list continues to mount with manager Gordon Strachan bemoaning the fact he was a whole team of players now missing from his squad.

The Hoops made only one change from their Champions League clash against Manchester United for their weekend match against Motherwell, with Mark Brown replacing Artur Boruc in goal as the Polish keeper prepares to undergo knee surgery.

But Scotland international Hartley has hit back at critics who claim some Celtic players looked lethargic in the games and said the team should be judged at the end of the season.

“Some people question our fitness. Some people have got a lot to say on how fit the team is,” Hartley said.

“But we just keep going until the end and we have a very fit team here and a very young team apart from some people.

“It was a good team performance against Motherwell and after the game in midweek a lot of people have been talking about us being tired.

“But we’ve got a very fit squad and it was a good three points for us.

“People talk about us being tired, but we’re only in November. Let’s see how we are in April, if we are tired or not.

“At the start of the season we probably had the biggest squad since I came here. Now, though, it’s been depleted.

“But the players in the team, the young kids who have come in, have given it their all.”

Midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has given the Hoops a boost by declaring himself ready to play in Wednesday’s match.

The Japanese international was expected to be out for two weeks with a knee injury but he has told Strachan he is willing to be selected for the game.

Kilmarnock face Celtic just three days after losing 4-0 to the other half of the Old Firm.

Jim Jefferies will be hoping his side can stop the run of three straight league defeats at Parkhead. On Tuesday Aberdeen host St Mirren knowing the visitors could leapfrog them in the league with a win.

Defenders Lee Mair and Andrew Considine return to the Aberdeen squad while St Mirren defender Scott Cuthbert is available for the Saints after recovering from flu.

In Wednesday’s other matches Rangers travel to Fir Park to take on Motherwell sitting two points behind leaders Celtic in the SPL. The Ibrox side will be without midfielder Kevin Thomson, whose season looks to be over after he damaged his cruciate ligament.

Motherwell will be without striker David Clarkson after he was sent off in last weekend’s defeat to Celtic. Hibernian make the trip to Tannadice for their match against Dundee United looking for their first win in five matches.

United will be looking to hold on to third spot in the league after their win against Aberdeen at the weekend. Hearts host bottom placed Hamilton at Tynecastle without Michael Stewart who is suspended.

Hamilton will be hoping to stop the rot after collecting just one point in their last seven league fixtures. Inverness CT welcome Falkirk to the Tulloch Homes stadium with the home side on a high following their recent win against Hibs.

Fixtures (1945 BST unless otherwise stated)

Tuesday

Aberdeen v St Mirren

Wednesday

Celtic v Kilmarnock, Dundee United v Hibernian, Hearts v Hamilton, Inverness CT v Falkirk, Motherwell v Rangers