Celtic manager wary of visiting Saints

Celtic have the chance to close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League when St Johnstone visit Parkhead on Saturday.

It is the first of three league games in a busy seven day spell for the Parkhead club who are away to St Mirren on Wednesday before facing Kilmarnock at home.

The Hoops, who currently trail rivals Rangers by 13 points in the race for the championship, haven’t played at Celtic Park in a month and will be looking to make home advantage count against the Saints.

However the Perthshire side are pushing for a place in the top six in what is their first season in the top flight after gaining promotion in the summer.

And despite racking up two big wins against St Johnstone so far this season Celtic manager Tony Mowbray says he won’t take anything for granted against a team he has a lot of respect for.

“They have different types of player and can play in different ways,” Mowbray said.

“Any team that is coming up from the division below us is going to need time to adjust and get used to the environment and St Johnstone seem to have found their feet.

“They’ve had some very good results over the past few weeks and will come to Celtic Park in confidence, having won their last couple of games.”

With Rangers not on league duty this weekend due to their involvement in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday the Hoops will want to reduce their lead as they hold on to the slim hope they can catch their Old Firm rivals in the race for the championship.

After showing some indifferent form in 2010 Celtic have won their last two games, keeping a clean sheet in both with on-loan Spurs star scoring five goals.

However injuries continue to plague Mowbray’s side with doubts over Shaun Maloney, Glenn Loovens, Thomas Rogne, Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt while captain Scott Brown is suspended.

Derek McInnes’ side were expected to be amongst the relegation candidates at the beginning of the season but now sit just three points off Hearts in seventh place after their win at Falkirk.

Third-placed Dundee United travel to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen. With no wins in 10 games Dons boss Mark McGhee is under pressure and a place in the top six looks beyond his side this season.

Hamilton host Falkirk in a battle at the bottom. The Bairns are four points adrift at the bottom and need to start picking up the points quickly if Steven Pressley’s side are to retain their SPL status.

Hearts host Hibernian at Tynecastle in the third Edinburgh derby of the season. The two previous meetings between the capital city rivals have ended in draws.

Hibs had been challenging the Old Firm at the top of the SPL for most of the season but following a run of bad results recently John Hughes’ side have fallen to fifth place.

Hearts, who have lost their two previous games, have major injury problems and are already without Ruben Palazuelos, Ian Black, Ismael Bouzid, Michael Stewart, Marian Kello, Marius Zaliukas and Ryan Wallace.

But Jim Jefferies, facing his first derby since returning as Hearts boss, also has concerns about Jose Goncalves, Ryan Stevenson, Calum Elliot and Arvydas Novikovas.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v Dundee United, Celtic v St Johnstone, Hamilton v Falkirk, Hearts v Hibernian