Celtic

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Celtic pair James Forrest and Greg Taylor have withdrawn from the Scotland squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header against Poland and Portugal.

Also dropping out are Torino forward Che Adams and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie.

Rangers midfielder Connor Barron and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig have been promoted from the Under-21s and Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken is also added to Steve Clarke's squad for the double-header.

Taylor played the full 90 minutes of the 3-0 derby win over Rangers on Sunday while Forrest came off the bench midway through the second half for his 500th Celtic appearance.

Scotland host Poland on Thursday and visit Portugal on Sunday.

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Following his departure from Dundee, Luke McCowan says he will always hold the club close to his heart.

The midfielder left the Dens Park side on transfer deadline day to join boyhood team Celtic after three-and-a-half years on Tayside.

The 26-year-old signed for Dundee from Ayr United in 2021 before going on to play over 100 games while scoring 28 goals.

McCowan, who made his Celtic debut off the bench in Sunday's Old Firm win, says his time at Dens was "an amazing journey".

"Now that I've finally caught up on sleep, I want to say thank you," he said on an Instagram post, external.

"Everyone involved with the club, staff, players and fans have helped me reach my dream."

Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, 26, is expected to be fit for the Scottish champions' next match against Hearts on 14 September after being seen wearing a supportive boot following Sunday's win over Rangers. (Sun), external

Hibernian sporting director Malky Mackay revealed the club bid £1m for Luke McCowan before the midfielder left Dundee for Celtic. (Record), external

Read all of Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

Celtic fans, we asked for your views after another derby victory at the weekend.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Patrick: Other than the first 10 minutes Rangers offered absolutely nothing. Celtic dominated so heavily it looked like we had extra players on the pitch at times. Fantastic performance, they were lucky it was only 3-0.

David: Celtic were terrific and Callum McGregor bossed the game! Man of the match performance from the skipper and a great goal. Very impressed with Nicolas Kuhn on the wing, really settling in well. Our midfield three didn't give the Rangers midfielders a sniff.

Craig: Liam Scales and especially Greg Taylor were superb once again. They are unsung stalwarts of this team and I think it’s about time more Celtic fans give them the respect they deserve.

Cameron: You clearly had one team playing to its strengths whilst the other was protecting against its deficits. The gulf in quality was there for all to see and it will only widen.

Anon: Europe is the acid test now. The whole focus has to be on Europe. Celtic need a run in Europe to progress. At the very least they need to get out of the group stage. 15 points minimum.

Chris: I thought Celtic to a man were fantastic today! Rangers started well but as soon as Celtic had the ball in the net there was only one winner. Rangers never really threatened. The few chances they did have they never looked like taking. If that is them closing the gap, then the gap is far bigger than I think Rangers will care to admit.

Jim: Celtic are so far ahead of Rangers it's frightening. Celtic totally dominant in this fixture and will only get stronger. The team is slick, playing the 'Brendan way' again and I just can't see anything upsetting them on the domestic front. Europe a tougher nut to crack however.

Three games. Three goals. Three crackers.

Callum McGregor has scored in each of his past three Premiership matches, with every strike coming from outside the box.

Click play to watch every goal from the Celtic captain this season. (UK only)

Dimitar Mitov (Aberdeen): Outstanding penalty save was as invaluable to Aberdeen continuing their perfect start to the season.

Alistair Johnston (Celtic): Standout performer every week. Brings so much energy, power and invention to this Celtic side in defence and attack.

Liam Scales (Celtic): Outstanding at the back. Shames the doubters continually by never putting a foot wrong.

Dan Casey (Motherwell): Constant menace in the St Johnstone box, always committed. Plays with fire in his belly.

Ross Graham (Dundee United): Slotting in as a square peg in a round hole at left-back, the centre-back has become one of United's most solid performers in recent weeks and scored the winner at Hearts.

Topi Keskinen (Aberdeen): Direct and impactful performance against Ross County. Looks to have really exciting potential.

Callum McGregor (Celtic): Could have pencilled him in before the match even started. The commander-in-chief of a team in full command of every match they play right now. Another superb performance and another great goal.

Lyall Cameron (Dundee): Plenty of life after Luke McCowan with this young man in the Dundee midfield. An assist and always full of guile.

Daizen Maeda (Celtic): Gave Rangers captain James Tavernier another torrid time. His energy and pace on the left gives Celtic such an advantage over Rangers.

Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic): Have run out of superlatives for his movement. Phenomenal to have a player like this in Scottish football. Lighting up the game for Celtic in the final third.

Kevin Nisbet (Aberdeen): What a way to win over the Dons fans. Felt like a statement moment when he struck home the winner deep in injury time in Dingwall. Bojan who?

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Ex-Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert was left "shocked" at the "massive gulf" between his former side Celtic and Rangers in Sunday's Old Firm encounter.

The Parkhead club continued their derby dominance with a comprehensive 3-0 victory, which moves Brendan Rodgers' men five points clear of their city rivals after just four league games.

Lambert says Rangers "never matched Celtic in any department" and their display showed they "are way behind" the reigning Premiership champions.

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio show, he added: "I thought Celtic were really comfortable but played some really, really good football.

"There's a massive pendulum swing towards Celtic at the minute and there's no way they're going to let that go.

"I was actually shocked at [the gap between them] because you expect Rangers to be strong. The non-negotiable in that game is you have to lay a marker down.

"Rangers never laid a glove. The recovery runs were poor. Tactically, I thought the defence played too deep. Celtic look more comfortable, dominant and you can tell there's a massive gulf."

Scott Allan believes his Celtic experience highlights how difficult it will be for Luke McCowan to get regular minutes at his new club.

The former Dundee midfielder made his debut off the bench in Sunday's Old Firm derby win.

Click here to listen to more weekend reaction on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Celtic brought in £10.59m more in the summer transfer market than they spent, Aberdeen made a profit of £2.67m, Motherwell were up £1.34m and Heart of Midlothian £1.01m, but Hibernian spent £438,460 more than they brought in, while Rangers' net spend was £11.71m. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Augsburg sporting director Marinko Jurendic says the opportunity to play in the Champions League was the biggest factor in midfielder Arne Engels' decision to leave for Celtic in last week's £11m transfer. (HITC), external

Celtic captain Callum McGregor says he told Luke McCowan to "go and play, you've got massive quality, just go and run about, I'll be with you, so let's just go" when his fellow midfielder came on as a substitute against Rangers on Sunday after the 26-year-old's transfer from Dundee. (Daily Record), external

Celtic could be sweating over the fitness of Cameron Carter-Vickers after the United States centre-half was spotted leaving Parkhead in a leg brace after Sunday's Old Firm victory. (Football Scotland), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "In a lot of attacking moments we were so exciting to watch.

"We didn't start the game great, but once we had the goal disallowed the confidence builds. Overall, attacking-wise very impressive but also keeping that defensive mentality to keep the clean sheet, typified by Kasper at the end.

"A fantastic atmosphere, really good performance and I'm delighted with that.

"We expect that pressing, that mentality. Kyogo's goal is a brilliant finish, to guide it with that power was really good. His pressing and movement were sensational today.

"It was a challenge for Callum [McGregor] today, Rangers clearly tried to nullify him but he's so good tactically. He's that tempo-setter for us and to back that up with that strike was superb.

"Liam Scales had a fantastic last season. Sometimes the Scottish or Irish guys might not feel like the sexiest players, but I don't know where we would have been without Liam Scales last year. He again stood up today.

"It's a strong squad and we just need to keep building our performance level.

"It's so early, but I'm pleased with the mentality of the squad. The football and intensity and the speed has been so pleasing."

Celtic reinforced the recent Old Firm derby pattern with a routine Scottish Premiership win against Rangers.

Coming in as strong favourites and on their own patch, the champions withstood Rangers' spiky start before reasserting their familiar dominance.

Daizen Maeda guided in a close-range finish from Alistair Johnston's cross, as Rangers were manipulated all too easily from a throw-in.

By that point Kyogo Furuhashi had already had a goal ruled out for offside against Nicolas Kuhn, but the Japanese striker would soon add to his bulging derby tally with a precise finish from the edge of the box.

Callum McGregor ended the contest with a belting finish from the edge of the box to move his side five points clear of their great rivals with only four league games played.

Were you at Celtic Park or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on another Celtic derby win – have your say here, external.

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

So much of this Celtic performance was a carbon copy of their derby dominance in recent seasons. The superiority in midfield, blitzing the Rangers full-backs, and another goal from a cut back in a furious first half.

Callum McGregor, usually the orchestrator in chief, was more lowkey before smashing in the third goal but next to him Paulo Bernardo was everywhere as the Kyogo disallowed goal roused Celtic from an unusual early slumber in the first five minutes.

Brendan Rodgers has talked about the quality of their pre-season work to allow them to be better without the ball this season, and that was in evidence yet again here. They dominated the duels and hounded Rangers, living off their mistakes.

One such incident lead to the second goal as left-back Greg Taylor picked off an under hit ball into midfield before finding Kyogo, who calmly passed the ball beyond the despairing dive of Jack Butland.

All the signs are there that they will be better than last season both in terms of their evolution under Rodgers, and squad depth given the business done at the end of the window.

That is a terrifying prospect for Rangers and the rest of Scottish football.

Celtic switch two following last weekend's win at St Mirren as Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn return to the XI.

Adam Idah and James Forrest, who could make his 500th club appearance, drop to the bench.

New signings Alex Valle, Arne Engels, Auston Trusty and Luke McCowan are all among the substitutes and could make their Glasgow derby debuts.

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New Celtic defender Auston Trusty would have no problem coping with an Old Firm debut, says former Rangers centre-back Danny Wilson, who played with Trusty at Colorado Rapids. (Scottish Sun)

Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo insists he's ready to press the reboot button to pile more Old Firm misery on Rangers. (Daily Record)

Click here to read Sunday's Scottish football gossip in full.

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Celtic could have some new signings in their squad including Alex Valle while Cameron Carter-Vickers is fit despite missing training on Friday.

Rangers have a fresh doubt over Leon Balogun after he went off with a neck injury against Ross County while Nico Raskin, Robin Propper, Oscar Cortes and Ridvan Yilmaz are battling to regain fitness. They could include new loan signing Neraysho Kasanwirjo.

Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.

From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.

Listen to the full episode here.

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Childhood Celtic supporter Luke McCowan is "desperate" to get started at his new club following his "surreal" deadline day move from Dundee.

McCowan scored 10 goals and notched up five assists throughout an impressive 2023-24 season at Dens Park.

After signing a three-year-deal, McCowan told Celtic TV: "It's a bit surreal even sitting here with the Hoops on. I don't really know how to put it into words.

"It's just something that I’ve been desperate to get down as soon as I knew Celtic were interested.

"I'm just ready to get to work and show that I'm a player that can play for this club."

The 26-year-old completed the move to Celtic Park despite multiple bids coming in from Hibernian - receiving a phone call from new boss Brendan Rodgers late in the evening.

"The manager got my number and left me a lovely message, asking me to call him and as soon as I phoned him he was nothing but complimentary about myself and welcomed me to the club.

"And after two minutes on the phone, I was ready to run as fast and as hard as I can for him on the pitch. So I'm ready to go.

"It's special to come to a club this size and just know that you're going to be a part of something that's going to be really great."

McCowan's first appearance in Celtic colours could come against city rivals Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

"I've grown up watching the derby and you know what it means to everybody at this club and you know, come Sunday, what emotions it can bring, and I'm sure that if I’m part of that I can hopefully add to it and hopefully enjoy it."

We asked for your views on record-signing Arne Engels following the 20-year-old midfielder's arrival from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg.

Here's what some of you said:

Tom: Great transfer window, can't argue at that! Engels should be a solid addition to the squad, as he can play right-back, winger or in midfield. I think he will give McGregor more freedom to push up the pitch. Trusty and McCowan should be good additions too.

Chris: Engels is a class signing. Good to see some ambition from Celtic and £11m for a player already breaking into the Belgium squad could end up being a steal.

Steve: Engels will hopefully be a good signing. It's a lot of money on such a young lad so he must have bags of ability. Feel like more investment was needed for the Champions League though.

Joe: I thought these days were gone. Over £25m spent. Celtic officially operate on an entirely different plane to the rest of Scotland. Haven’t been this excited for a season since the O'Neill era.

Peter: Delighted to get the three signings done but Celtic's recruitment needs a root and branch overhaul. It is so amateur to be still trying to get, allegedly, the manager's number one target on deadline day. Big clubs do not operate this way.

Stephen: He was the signing I've wanted since the window opened. Shame it took until 10 minutes before the window closed, but it's done and he is ours. Great replacement for O'Riley.