Celtic

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Ninety-two points and 112 goals tells you all you need to know about Celtic's season.

That there were still howls of derision from the home fans on trophy day when their heroes huffed and puffed but failed to blow the St Mirren house down speaks volumes of the standards expected at Parkhead these days.

Manager Brendan Rodgers will not be happy that the party was spoiled somewhat by the performance.

The silver lining for him will be that his men will go into next week's Scottish Cup final, with a treble on the line, fully aware that they canot let their levels drop again if they want to complete the domestic clean sweep.

Too many of his usual high performers could not find their usual standards. Perhaps understandable, given this title was effectively won a long, long time ago.

Celtic are braced for big-money offers for Daizan Maeda and the Japan forward has hinted that he will see what the summer brings before agreeing a new contract. (Daily Record), external

Celtic pathways manager Darren O'Dea has agreed terms with Swansea City to become their new assistant manager. (Sky Sports), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has been ruled out for the last two games of the season with a knee injury. Cameron Carter-Vickers returns while Dane Murray (knee) remains out.

St Mirren have a full squad available aside from Owen Oseni.

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is delighted to see James Forrest in the spotlight with plans in place for the winger to take centre stage when Celtic lift the Scottish Premiership trophy on Saturday.

Forrest will lead the champions out with the silverware following their match against St Mirren at Parkhead.

The 33-year-old became most decorated player in Celtic's history when the title was sealed last month, his 26th major honour.

"It's great for him," Rodgers said. "I think it's long overdue, all the accolades he's receiving this season.

"You see him the other night, 33 years of age, but he's still strong in his legs, strong in his running. He's always had the quality.

"So it would be a really lovely touch by the club for him to do that with his family."

Rodgers joked Forrest would be doing everything possible to find his first goal of the season, including taking penalties and free-kicks.

The Scotland international has scored in the past 15 seasons for Celtic and is attempting to continue that remarkable statistic.

"I think he's on everything," Rodgers said, having started Forrest in the 5-1 win at Pittodrie on Wednesday.

"He was so unlucky, the keeper makes a really good save the other night when he cuts inside off his left foot, the one in the second half. He's dragged the first one in the first half.

"But he's always a goal threat, James. He'll always be there. So, I'm pretty sure over the next couple of games, he'll get the goal.

"But if he doesn't, he's still a wonderful player."

Image source, SNS

• Celtic have won 11 of their past 12 meetings with St Mirren in all competitions (D1), including the past eight in a row.

• St Mirren have only won one of their last 37 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D3 L33), a 2-1 victory in January 2021 under Jim Goodwin.

• Celtic have won their final league game in 14 of the past 17 seasons (including curtailed 2019-20 season), with their only defeat in this time coming in 2017-18 (1-0 v Aberdeen).

• St Mirren have lost their final league match in both of the past two seasons, a 3-0 defeat to Rangers in 2022-23, and 3-2 to Celtic in 2023-24.

• Celtic have scored 111 goals in this season's Scottish Premiership. Only in 1915-16 (116), 1935-36 (115), 2022-23 (114), and 1937-38 (113) have they netted more in a single league campaign.

Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before Saturday's final Premiership match of the season at home to St Mirren, after which the champions will be presented with the trophy.

Here are the key points...

• Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is available to face the Buddies.

• However, Rodgers confirmed midfielder Reo Hatate will be absent and also miss the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on 24 May after an injury he picked up in "a needless challenge" by the Dons' Pape Gueye on Wednesday.

• Rodgers sees Saturday as "a great reward for the sacrifice so many people have put in, and especially the players" and insists Celtic still have "targets".

• James Forrest will lead the team out with the trophy - his 26th club honour - after the match and the manager said of the 33-year-old: "It's great for him. I think it's long overdue, all the accolades he's receiving this season."

• Rodgers expects Celtic supporters to "celebrate safely" on Saturday.

Image source, SNS

Daizen Maeda has been named Scottish Premiership player of the year in recognition of his sparkling Celtic form.

The Japan forward has netted 16 league goals - and 31 across all competitions - to help Celtic to a fourth successive title as they look to complete the treble with victory over Aberdeen in next week's Scottish Cup final.

Maeda is celebrating an awards double having also taken the PFA Scotland player of the year prize, while boss Brendan Rodgers was named Premiership manager of the year.

Image source, SNS

Luke McCowan revealed he has imparted some sage advice to Sean McArdle following the 17-year-old's breakthrough to the Celtic first team.

Midfielder McArdle has made his first two appearances off the bench in the past week as Celtic defeated Hibs 3-1 and Aberdeen 5-1.

"He's quiet," McCowan said. "It was funny, I was saying to him... he was behind me in one of the signing sessions and obviously you just scribble your name, your number. He wrote his full name, just on a print.

"And I said, 'Sean, you need to work on that because you'll be there for 10 hours walking out Parkhead'.

"He's a quiet boy but he works hard. And you can tell that he's desperate to come into the Celtic first team and and prove himself and do well.

"And if he performs the way he did on Wednesday night I'm sure he'll have so many more cameos because he's been a credit to himself to come in and train well. But also the most important thing is to do well in the games and he's been great."

McCowan was among the scorers at Pittodrie as a Celtic side showing eight changes eased to victory, but the midfielder is adamant the Scottish Cup final between the teams a week on Saturday will not be a formality.

"No, and it never will be," he said. "As you've probably seen at the end, there's probably a wee bit of bite in the game right at the 90th minute because they know the cup final's coming as well.

"Listen, it's a cup final, it's anybody's game. You need to show up. I'm sure we will have that performance ready and we need to push each other until then to make sure that our mentality is right going into it."

Kyogo Furuhashi's future at Rennes has been plunged into further doubt after director of football Frederic Massara, who brought the 30-year-old striker to France from Celtic, has left the club. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch Sportscene pundits Charlie Mulgrew and Michael Stewart analyse Celtic's impressive squad depth after their 5-1 win away at Aberdeen.

We asked for your views on Celtic's 5-1 win against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Sammy: Celtic had a slow start but the Aberdeen equaliser gave our players a fright to boost their play with another three goals after the second half.

Brenda: Brendan Rodgers should never have risked an injury to Reo Hatate in a meaningless match at Pittodrie. Ange Postecoglou knew how to rotate the squad within matches, with large-scale changes around 60 minutes, which generally resulted in more goals. Rodgers sticks to the same old, same old for 85 minutes every week. Basic errors by a coach who never played professional football, and who over-relies on cheque-book management. It'll be Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire next.

Sam: Love the look of Maik Nawrocki, Sean McArdle and Johnny Kenny. We need to nurture their development and give them game time. Yang Hyun-Jun is showing he can make a push for the first team, and Viljami Sinisalo is giving a promising display as a future number one. We need to develop these players and let them play!

Dave: Aberdeen couldn't lay a glove on Celtic's B team. Compared to the energy and power the Celtic team showed, the Dons looked ponderous and inept. I dread to think what Celtic will do to them in the final when the A team are back.

Ray: Quite a scintillating show versus Don's. Luke McCowan, James Forrest and Nawrocki were superb and top-notch show all round, apart from the soft goal confirming Jeffrey Schlupp's weakness in man marking. Rodgers has to be commended for motivating a largely second-string team. Creativity and laser focus are the key to ending the league well and earning a fine treble.

Watch highlights as Aberdeen lose 5-1 against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

Luis Palma will return to Celtic at the end of his loan to Olympiakos, but although the Greek champions have decided against a permanent move, rivals Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK could be interested in the 25-year-old Honduras winger. (Sportime), external

Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael says Tyrhys Dolan will decide on his future after taking a holiday as the 23-year-old winger nears the end of his contract amid reported interest from Celtic and Rangers and after fans chanted his name and urged him to stay following their season-ending game against Sheffield United. (Daily Record), external

Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been personally responding to Celtic fans on social media touting the £6m-rated 24-year-old wide man for a summer transfer to the Scottish champions. (Glasgow Times), external

Rennes are poised to cut their losses Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who has been frozen out by team boss Habib Beye since the 30-year-old's £10m January switch from Celtic. (Daily Record), external

Liverpool have verbally agreed personal terms with former Celtic right-back Jeremie Frimpong and must now decide if and when to proceed with signing the Dutch international who has a release clause of around £29.6m with Bayer Leverkusen. (Football Insider), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, SNS

• Adam Idah has scored in each of his last 4 games in the Premiership (5 goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition.

• Kevin Nisbet has scored 11 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Aberdeen player.

• Celtic have scored in 34 of their 37 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Celtic have scored in each of their last 5 games in the Premiership, scoring 19 goals in that run.

• Adam Idah has contributed to goals in his last 4 games in the Premiership (5 goals, 0 assists).

Celtic fans, were you at Pittodrie to watch your side's comfortable win against Aberdeen or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the result and performance.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

The way Celtic dismantled Aberdeen with what was a new-look side highlighted the strength in depth Rodgers has at his disposal.

Maik Nawrocki was solid in defence and took his goal like a seasoned striker, Luke McCowan scored and contributed two assists in a magnificent all-round display, and wing duo Hyun-Jun Yang and James Forrest were a constant threat with their direct running.

Forrest was unfortunate not to find the net himself as he seeks to score in Celtic colours for the 16th season running.

Johnny Kenny's finish was superb and he put himself in goal-scoring positions throughout, having more shots than any player on either side.

It leaves Brendan Rodgers with several healthy selection headaches before the Scottish Cup final, although the Celtic manager will be sweating over the fitness of Reo Hatate, who went off injured after a heavy challenge from Pape Gueye.

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We were outstanding in the game. The attacking connection in the team was so good, we scored really good goals.

"So many good performances individually and collectively a really high level.

"It's a huge testament to the players because some of them haven't played for a number of games. To come in and play with that rhythm and tempo was highly impressive.

"[James Forrest] is so good, he can beat a player, he's so clever with the ball and his work-rate - he was outstanding.

"It was a stupid challenge [on Hatate]. The guy had obviously lost his head. We'll have to check and see how his knee is over the next couple of days.

"Tonight has no relevance to the cup final, it's a different occasion and a different game. Of course when you come to Pittodrie and win 5-1 and demonstrate that quality and intensity, it's a really good sign.

"Now we recover and focus on Saturday's game. It will be a special occasion for us. We want to win, pick up the trophy and then we can focus on Aberdeen in the cup final."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It's highly likely Celtic will score at Pittodrie this evening. They've only failed to net twice since the turn of the year, at Ibrox and McDiarmid Park.

You have to go back 26 games against the Dons – to March 2019 – for the last time Aberdeen prevented the Parkhead side scoring. This season alone, Brendan Rodgers' men have put 14 into the Reds' net.

One more tonight will enable Rodgers to tick another item off this term's wishlist. Celtic's next goal will be their 107th of the season, eclipsing the tally of his first campaign as Hoops boss which landed 106 points, the same number of goals and an 'invincible treble'.

Despite a drop-off since the turn of the year, and in particular since dropping out of the Champions League, this season will give the manager much cause for satisfaction.

Celtic's goal difference is already a massive +82, which is 45 better than their nearest rivals Rangers. The club record for goals scored in a league season is 116, a mark that has stood since the First World War. The champions need 11 goals in two games to eclipse that. Unlikely but not impossible.

The other target is the domestic clean sweep, which is why tonight's trip to Pittodrie has a little extra edge. It's a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final on Saturday week. Except in many ways it isn't.

Given Celtic only have one more match of real consequence this season - at Hampden - any players with fitness doubts are likely to be rested. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alastair Johnston didn't play against Hibs at the weekend, for example.

Celtic can afford to lose at Pittodrie while Aberdeen can't in their pursuit of third place.

The only game Celtic need to be 100% for is the cup final. Yes, players are battling for spots in the team but the manager almost certainly has his Hampden starting line-up pencilled in already.

It's that simple for Celtic. One more goal, and one more win against Aberdeen in Mount Florida, and another hugely successful season will have been completed. The rest is just the noise of Saturday's title party.

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen are winless in their past 29 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D6 L23) since a 1-0 league win in May 2018.

• Celtic are unbeaten in 16 visits to Aberdeen (all in the league), winning 13 and drawing three since a 2-1 defeat in February 2016.

• Aberdeen have won their final home league game in four of the past six seasons (D1 L1 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), including both of their past two. They last achieved this three seasons in a row from 2006-07 to 2008-09.

• Celtic have only won their final away league game in one of the past six seasons (D3 L2 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), although that was a 5-0 victory at Kilmarnock last term.

• In his managerial career, Celtic's Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed 13 league wins against Aberdeen – his joint-most against a single opponent, along with Dundee and Hearts.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen defenders Alexander Jensen and Kristers Tobers are available again. Ester Sokler (leg), Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) and Vicente Besuijen (knee) remain out.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers promised a reshuffle and Alistair Johnston returns from a hip problem. Daizen Maeda will stay behind for treatment on a niggle.

Kasper Schmeichel drops out to assess his shoulder's reaction to his comeback, but Cameron Carter-Vickers and Dane Murray remain out.