Celtic v Rangers injury news: 9 out + 3 doubts as rivalry renewed with both camps nursing knocks ahead of Parkhead clash
Celtic and Rangers go again this Sunday, just a week after their Premier Sports Cup meeting at Ibrox, with both camps carrying a lengthy list of absentees and doubts into the second instalment of this season’s Old Firm double-header. Celtic currently sit top of the Premiership on 18 points from six matches, with Rangers five points back in second after recovering from a difficult start to win their last four league games — meaning a positive result at Parkhead would meaningfully reshape the early title
The headline fitness issue on the Rangers side remains Ryan Naderi. The German forward was forced off in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Celtic following a heavy challenge from Mika Baur, and he faces a late fitness test before Sunday’s game, with McInnes having already gone public with his frustration over the SFA’s handling of the incident.
Beyond Naderi, Rangers have a lengthy absentee list. Lawrence Shankland is out until early December after requiring corrective surgery on a hamstring injury, while Tuur Rommens continues to be sidelined with a groin problem and isn’t expected back until October — James Penrice is set to deputise at left-back again if Rommens doesn’t recover in time for a late assessment. Youssef Chermiti is ruled out for the rest of the season having ruptured his ACL in the late summer, and Daisuke Yokota, who required groin surgery, remains unavailable into November. Winger/midfielder Johnston is a few weeks away as he continues to build back fitness from a hamstring issue, while Chelsea loanee Emenalo, who arrived carrying a minor problem, is being eased in gradually and remains a couple of weeks from involvement. Forward Osmand is expected to be missing until after the international break with an ankle issue, and an unnamed Portuguese attacker is also working his way back from injury, with a return targeted for later in October
Celtic have their own selection headaches heading into a game they’ll be desperate to bounce back in, following a bruising week that included last weekend’s cup defeat to Rangers and a 3-1 Europa League loss to Ferencvaros on Thursday. A South Korean international remains unavailable, currently away on duty at the Asia Cup, while a Canadian right-back is set to be sidelined until next month having picked up a hamstring injury during Celtic’s earlier league win over Kilmarnock. Further names are absent from Martin O’Neill’s squad, continuing a pattern of squad depth being tested on both sides of the city this season.
With no away fans permitted inside Celtic Park for the remainder of the season’s Old Firm fixtures, Sunday’s atmosphere will be shaped entirely by a home crowd eager to see their side respond after a difficult week. Rangers, by contrast, arrive with the psychological advantage of last weekend’s scoreline and an extra edge from the ongoing row over Naderi’s injury, even as they manage a long-term absentee list of their own. Whether the extended list of fitness concerns on both sides ends up shaping team selection more than tactics remains to be seen, but with the title race still finely poised and an international break to follow, neither manager can afford to get their calls wrong this weekend.
