Celtic

Celtic are in a long queue of clubs keen on 22-year-old Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, which includes five Premier League sides as well as Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta. (TBR Football), external

Celtic are monitoring Chelsea midfield pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka but there is English Premier League interest in both players. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston is trying to shake off a minor hip issue, while winger James Forrest is out until January with a foot complaint.

St Johnstone remain without Barry Douglas, Uche Ikpeazu, Cammy MacPherson and Sam McClelland.

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With 24 goal contributions in 24 games this season, it would be fair to say Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn is having the season of his life.

The German winger has arguably been the player of the season in Scotland so far but the 24-year-old insisted that his only ambition for the rest of the season is to stay fit.

"I don't really set targets," Kuhn said. "The most important thing for me is to stay fit after a full pre-season with the team.

"I have felt fit all season so hopefully it will be fine and I am back 100% soon.

"This has been my best return now and there are still a lot of games to come."

Kuhn was subsituted at half-time in the 3-0 win over Hibs a few weeks ago, and completely missed the goalless draw with Dundee United before returning to score from the bench against Motherwell.

"You can't play in all of them but I am happy to be back and I want to continue," Kuhn added. "My ambitions are just to stay fit and keep going.

"It was still a bit painful but it was good to be back. The goal was not the nicest I've scored but I will take it.

"It's nice to pick up where I left off. I just tried to continue the way I've started this season and I was happy to get the goal. But the most important thing was the three points."

Kuhn leads Celtic's charts for both goals and assists, with 13 and 11 respectively.

"I feel good. I am really happy at the club, with the team and all the people here. I enjoy playing.

"Do I have a taste for goals? Yes. Maybe at the end I could have taken another shot but I wanted to get the assist. It's nice to assist too."

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• Celtic have won 26 of their last 30 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (D4) since a 1-2 defeat in May 2016 under Ronny Deila.

• St Johnstone are winless in 16 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D4 L12) since a 1-0 win in March 2015 under Tommy Wright courtesy of Daniel Swanson's goal.

• Celtic have won their final league match in each of the last four calendar years - including a 3-1 win over St Johnstone in 2021 - since losing 2-1 to Rangers in 2019.

• St Johnstone have only won their final league match in one of the last nine calendar years (D3 L5), a 2-0 win over Dundee in 2018.

• Kyogo Furuhashi has been directly involved in nine goals in his last six league appearances against St Johnstone for Celtic, scoring six and assisting a further three.

Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is of interest to reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen but no offer has been made for the 26-year-old USA international. (Larry Henry Jr on X), external

Luis Palma is facing a potential exit from Celtic in January, with the Honduras winger, 24, struggling for game time under manager Brendan Rodgers. (The Herald, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Sportscene pundits Scott Allan and Steven Naismith analyse Nicolas Kuhn's influence for Celtic after Brendan Rodgers' side beat Motherwell 4-0 in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your thoughts on Celtic's 4-0 Boxing Day win against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Gordy: With all the negativity around the Dundee United game, hopefully fans will realise it's not easy to win every game. We weren't at our best in the first half but excellent in the second half, massive shout out to Arne Engels who I thought was really good. Beat St Johnstone, then onto Ibrox to finish the league, well done Brendan Rodgers.

Peter: Regardless of performance, a win and three points is all that counts. We are better off in the league now than before Christmas. Take a 12-point lead every day. Squad players getting plenty of opportunities. All good for the future. Lots of games. Big squad will pay dividends.

David: Rodgers ringing the changes using his squad, but two players seem indispensable to this Celtic team, Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda. Game after game they have their 90-plus minutes, and they both put in a shift. That was no different. Terrific second half from both of them. Captain McGregor running the show, Maeda perpetual motion. Terrific.

Paul: Again a struggle in the first half. Second going the same way until the substitutions came on. Need to keep playing the best team and change when winning by a decent margin.

Hugh: We played better than we have for some time, though it was still short of our full potential. Motherwell did frustrate us but our wake-up call came when they were unlucky not to equalise early in the second half. The thing I believe we have to take from recent games is our priority signing in this window has to be a striker.

Michael: A strong second-half showing, however, yet again, Celtic put themselves under pressure with a square ball inside several times. Nearly caught out like the first Rangers goal at Hampden. Looks like teams are on to that style of play.

Paul: Good result. I thought we were too slow in the first half. Passing needed to be quicker. Second half we played with a higher tempo and we got our rewards.

Watch highlights from Celtic's 4-0 win against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

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• Motherwell attempted two shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their past five games in the Premiership, a run of 510 minutes without conceding a goal.

• Celtic have scored in 16 of their 17 games, no team has done so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Nicolas Kuhn has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Celtic player has more.

• Celtic are undefeated in their past 26 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 1 October 2022 to 7 May 2023, a run of 27 games.

• Motherwell failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Rangers on 24 December 2023.

Right-back Alistair Johnston, 26, should be fit for Celtic's Scottish Premiership meeting at home to St Johnstone on Sunday. (Herald - subscription), external

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers left midfielder Arne Engels, 21, out of recent games "just to let him see from the outside looking in and take that pressure away from him". (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Celtic returned to winning ways after overcoming a shaky start to record a 4-0 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell.

After drawing at Dundee United on Sunday, the league leaders took time to get going but the breakthrough came in first-half injury time when Aston Oxborough collided with Hyunjun Yang to give Celtic a penalty.

Arne Engels stepped up and slotted into the bottom-left corner, sending the Motherwell keeper the wrong way.

Celtic had enjoyed the better chances in the first half, most notably when Daizen Maeda's strike was blocked by Oxborough, and although the Motherwell goalkeeper almost sent the ball into his own net, he and his defence scrambled it clear.

Celtic fans, were you at Parkhead or were you following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "Motherwell were very organised and made it difficult for us in the first half.

"We saw that against Dundee United, we had to improve in that aspect, keep going and take the risk with the passes.

"In the second half we just needed to up the tempo and the players did that ever so well, pressed the game when we had to, and we looked really creative.

"At this time in the season it's difficult to play in quick succession but I thought the players' focus in the game was very good. They didn't panic and they got the rewards."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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The goalless draw at Dundee United last weekend left the Celtic fans frustrated.

Despite continuing their unbeaten run, many felt the reigning champions should have cruised past Jim Goodwin's promoted side.

For 45 minutes at Parkhead on Boxing Day, it looked like supporters may have been destined for more disappointment but Arne Engels gave them a much-needed boost before the break.

Brendan Rodgers' men came out in the second half looking much more like their old selves and managed to put another three goals on the scoresheet.

Keeping their consistency is going to be key as Celtic attempt to navigate a busy run of Premiership games over the coming weeks, as they host St Johnstone before a trip to Ibrox in the new year, followed up by a visit from St Mirren.

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Once again Daizen Maeda's pace caused problems for the visitors. His movement for his goal was spectacular as he helped Celtic to a comfortable win.

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Brendan Rodgers has urged Celtic to rediscover their ruthless edge in their first Boxing Day home game for 14 years.

Celtic have drawn two of their last three matches in all competitions 0-0, with the weekend stalemate at Tannadice seeing their lead at the Premiership summit trimmed to nine points before the visit of Motherwell on Thursday.

"It's always great to play in front of our own supporters. We love playing at home," manager Rodgers told Celtic TV.

"But it's one that we're looking forward to, one we want to take three points and we want to put on a performance that merits all the great support that we get.

"It will be tough. Motherwell will defend the space deep and we'll have to be really bright and clever in order to break through that pressure.

"We had a challenging game against them earlier in the season [3-0 win at Fir Park], so I would expect the same. We would just need to be more clinical in our game than what we have been recently.

"We had a number of guys out on Sunday so hopefully we arrive into Thursday's game, we'll see how they are but we should have one or two back to give us that depth in our squad."

Internacional submit a take it or leave it offer for on-loan Celtic left-back Alexandro Bernabei and Palmeiras may make a move for the 24-year-old. (Herald - subscription), external

Read latest Scottish gossip

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Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is a doubt after missing the goalless draw with Dundee United with a knee issue.

Brendan Rodgers also hopes Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty recover from illness and Alistair Johnston shakes off a minor hip issue while James Forrest is out until January with a foot complaint.

Motherwell were successful in their bid to have Dan Casey's red card against Kilmarnock downgraded to a yellow which allows him to feature in Glasgow.

Sam Nicholson returns after illness but Steve Seddon is out as he awaits news of the extent of his ankle injury. Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery (knee), Jack Vale (calf) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

• Celtic are unbeaten in 32 meetings with Motherwell in all competitions (W27 D5) since a 2-1 home defeat in December 2015.

• Motherwell last faced Celtic on Boxing Day in 1964, losing 2-0. Overall, the Steelmen have drawn both of their last two away games against the Hoops 1-1.

• In all competitions, Celtic are unbeaten in 24 home games (W21 D3), their longest such run since going 33 without a loss from December 2005 to March 2007 under Gordon Stachan.

• Motherwell have only lost one of their last six Boxing Day league games (W4 D1), a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in 2018.

• Celtic have won 17 of their last 18 Boxing Day league games, including their last 11 in a row since a 2-2 draw with Dundee United in 2006. This is their first Boxing Day home game since 2010, ending a run of eight straight away games on this day.

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Callum McGregor says Celtic's high standards meant dropping points at Tannadice felt "like the end of the world", but has urged his team to swiftly return to winning ways against Motherwell on Boxing Day.

The goalless draw with Dundee United was only the second time this season that Celtic have dropped Premiership points, and they ended the weekend with their lead over Rangers at the top cut to nine points.

"The lead we have has been a product of how good we've been this season," skipper McGregor said.

"But we don't want to have too many of these days where you start to chase your tail a little bit.

"We understand what the problem was and we dust ourselves down and move on from it.

"We can get back on the horse quickly on Boxing Day and try to get three points, and then it just rolls on again.

"The success that we've had over a long period of time now means every dropped point feels like a defeat, it feels like the end of the world.

"It's good for the players to see that and understand how it feels, because we're a team that's used to winning all the time.

"Sometimes it's okay to be disappointed and feel hurt and try to use that momentum in the coming games.

"The boys speak about it all the time. As soon as you drop points it feels like you've lost. It's a weird feeling, the place is quiet and it doesn't have its usual feel.

"You try and limit the amount of times throughout the season that you feel like that."

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Arsenal's Scotland defender Kieran Tierney, 27, would be interested in a return to Celtic, with his contract in north London ending at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external

Atlanta United are considering a new approach for Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, 29, and could offer £10m for the Japan international. (Mail), external

Celtic captain Callum McGregor, 31, expects the club's January signings to "push the group further". (Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Jonathan Sutherland

Celtic were held to a goalless draw at Dundee United to keep their Premiership unbeaten run alive and they have one player in my Team of the Week.

A rare outing for Stephen Welsh and he impressed, not just defensively but going forward as well. One pass particularly stood out as he split the Dundee United defence wide open.