Celtic

Celtic have reportedly scouted Dundee United forward Owen Stirton, the 18-year-old forward on loan at Montrose. (National), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Holders Celtic will take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-finals next month.

The tie will be played at Hampden on the weekend of 19-20 April.

Hearts face Aberdeen in the other semi-final.

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Arne Engels insists "nobody needs to be motivated" for next weekend's derby against Rangers.

Celtic go into the game at Parkhead 16 points clear at the top of the Premiership table having booked a spot in the Scottish Cup semi-final and with the League Cup trophy already in the bag.

But in the game at Ibrox earlier this year, Brendan Rodgers' side suffered their first domestic defeat of the season with a 3-0 loss away from home.

"Nobody needs to be motivated for that game," Engels said.

"Everybody knows what kind of game it is and what kind of game everybody wants to have.

"We just need to win and don't need to show everybody how good we are because we showed it already a lot of times

"It's now about winning every game and that's always our mindset and it will always be our mindset every week. We are really ready for it and everybody is really focused now on that game.

"We just have the mentality of winning every game and that's what we did already the whole year and what we are going to do now the next weeks.

"Just going into every game with our winning mentality and with a lot of energy, which has allowed us to produce really good results and really good performances.

"We just need to keep on going like this and not look too much forward. Just to the next game and going there with full energy and full focus."

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Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott says Adam Idah can overcome a "tough" spell at Celtic and fight for a starting spot.

The Irishman made a permanent move from Norwich in the summer and spent the majority of the season playing second fiddle to Kyogo Furuhashi before he left for Rennes in the winter window.

Since the turn of the year though, Daizen Maeda has emerged as a preferred option up top for Celtic.

The Japan international started up front in Celtic's 2-0 victory over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup on Sunday and scored the opening goal for Brendan Rodgers' side while Idah was brought on in the final minutes and nabbed the second.

"Try and put yourself in Adam Idah's mind," McDermott told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"When Kyogo goes, he's probably at the back of his mind celebrating, thinking this is brilliant I'm the first choice number nine here.

"Little does he know that a couple of weeks later, Daizen is the new number nine for Celtic because Brendan Rodgers obviously changes it up.

"We know what Maeda gives through the middle and again when it was such a big game [against Hibs], Brendan Rodgers reverts to what now looks like his first choice 11 and that doesn't have Adam Idah in it.

"So it's tough for him but all he can do is what he did on Sunday. He was only on the park for about 10 minutes and he comes on, looks a threat and gets his goal. So he'll be pleased with that but he'll definitely want more minutes."

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Yang Hyun-jun has been called up for South Korea's World Cup qualifiers later this month.

A year on from his last inclusion, Yang will be in the squad for games against Oman and Jordan later this month.

Despite a difficult start to life in Glasgow, the winger has been impressive in recent games with four goals and two assists in his last five Premiership appearances.

He will join up with Hong Myung-bo's side as they search for the two wins needed in order to qualify for next year's competition.

Celtic fans, we asked for your views on Sunday's Scottish Cup win over Hibs.

Here's what some of you had to say:

PJ: A professional performance from Celtic where the opposition had no chance. This is now an era of domination that nobody is hitting soon at all.

Peter: Result is all that matters. Yes, we can play better but who cares. The treble is still on. Enjoy these days, it has not always been like this. The last 25 years have been incredible domestically. The challenge remains to progress on European front but never take domestic dominance for granted, it has to be earned. We have a manager who understands that.

John: The victory was very comfortable Hibs never gave up but on the day Celtic were just too good for them.

Chris: I think we did what we needed to do. We had good spells in the game, got the goals at the right time, defended well, and controlled the game when we needed. To me it was another example of maybe not firing on all cylinders but you get the result anyway, and against a much improved Hibs side.

Brian: Daizen Maeda is just like a Celtic Mo Salah! He scores every other match: league, League Cup, Champions League, Scottish Cup. Unstoppable. Player of last month, year and Ballon d'Or!

Crystal Palace are keen to bring Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers back to the Premier League. (GiveMeSport), external

Motherwell will demand a fee of just under £10m for 18-year-old midfielder Lennon Miller this summer, with Celtic and Lyon both interested. (Football Insider), external

Hyun-jun Yang's recent form for Celtic has earned him a return to the South Korea squad for World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Jordan this month. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Celtic fans, were you taking in the action at Parkhead on Sunday or following the action from home? Either way we want your views as Brendan Rodgers' side booked their spot in the semi-final.

Have your say, external

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We knew the jeopardy in the game but I thought we were excellent.

"In the second half we had a little spell of about 10-12 minutes where we just didn't keep the ball well enough to allow us to come up the pitch so that gave them a little bit of impetus.

"I thought overall in the game we were thoroughly deserving winners. We scored two probably could have had more. The game probably should have been out of sight earlier.

"Consistency is all about mentality and that's a massive credit to the players. The environment we have is to maintain a standard of performance every single day and over the course of the season the players have done that.

"Overall it was a really professional performance. I'm just really happy to be in the semi-final."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

This was, at times, a sparkling display from Celtic, who started like a runaway train and threatened to overwhelm the men from Leith.

Visiting goalkeeper Jordan Smith had to be on top form, with the likes of Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn, Jota and Daizen Maeda all constant menaces.

On another day, this would have been a far more comfortable win for Celtic but when it comes to cup ties, all that matters is getting the win so it was a case of very much job done for Brendan Rodgers' men against the other form team in the country.

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Daizen Maeda put in another energetic performance and scored Celtic's opener against Hibernian but, had it not been for visiting goalkeeper Jordan Smith, the margin of victory would have been greater.

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Nicolas Kuhn wants Celtic to avenge their recent league defeat by Hibernian when the sides meet in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. (Daily Record), external

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Liam Scales misses out for Celtic with a facial injury but Auston Trusty and Callum McGregor are fit after going off with injuries against St Mirren.

James Forrest is building up his fitness after a foot injury, while Paulo Bernardo will return from an ankle injury after the international break.

Hibs captain Joe Newell remains on the sidelines.

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Luke McCowan says he hopes a Scotland call-up is "on the horizon" should he continue impressing for Celtic, but isn't expecting one in the near future.

Head coach Steve Clarke will name his squad for the two-legged Nations League play-off against Greece next week, and some supporters and pundits have suggested the midfielder should be selected.

But the 27-year-old is not getting his hopes up.

"Maybe not a target this season," he said of making Clarke's team.

"It's something that's hopefully on the horizon at one point, but as I've said before, it's not something that's jumping out at me.

"If it comes along, it comes along. I'm at a great club. I'm playing most weeks and I'm enjoying that.

"If that comes along, I'm sure I'll be happy, but it's about focusing on Celtic just now."

McCowan and his team-mates have been able to do that more this past week than recent times have allowed, due to not playing midweek.

The former Dundee man admitted he had to "push through" some gruelling weeks amid a packed fixture schedule, but knows he's come out the other end stronger for it.

"It's actually something I was thinking of this week, now that it's passed, I was like, that was a tough couple of months," he added.

"It's the first time I've felt it. This mentality, getting your body used to it, getting your mind used to it, is something that I obviously got through now, but I'm glad I pushed myself through that. You test yourself with it.

"If I was to get called up, I know I'd be able to deal with it a lot better than what I would in previous years. If it does come along, I know I'll be ready for it mentally, physically and tactically.

"Hopefully it does come along, but if it doesn't, it's not something that's going to get to me."

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The draw for the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup will take place on Monday after the Livingston v St Johnstone game (19:45 GMT kick-off) on BBC Scotland.

Hearts have already booked their place thanks to a 3-1 win over Dundee.

Aberdeen host Queen's Park on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland - and Hibs visit holders Celtic on Sunday.

Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Everton are all interested in bringing 27-year-old United States centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers back to England's Premier League from Celtic. (The Boot Room), external

Celtic are looking to sign Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller during the summer transfer window, while Lyon have also been monitoring the 18-year-old Scotland Under-21 international. (Football Insider), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is relishing a "great atmosphere" when high-flying Hibs bring 7,000 fans to Parkhead for the Scottish Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

It will be the biggest away support at Celtic Park since 2018 when Rangers cut the Old Firm derby allocation of 7,500, with Celtic responding in kind.

"I think having a number of away supporters is great," Rodgers said.

"Hibs are on a very good run, so the supporters will be buoyed by that as well.

"They'll come and support the team and that will activate our supporters as well, so it should be a great atmosphere.

"You can't dismiss what it means to have away supporters in your ground, because that creates the atmosphere, that creates the rivalry.

"This game will show the passion that is there from both sets of supporters and that will roll on to the pitch, I'm pretty sure, and create for a great atmosphere."

Hibs, currently unbeaten in 15 games, defeated Celtic 2-1 at Easter Road a fortnight ago, albeit the visitors had a late equaliser incorrectly disallowed.

The scoreline of the previous meeting - 3-0 to Celtic at home - didn't tell the whole story either. In that game, Hibs had 14 shots, nine on target and forced goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to make nine saves.

Rodgers is expecting another tough game at Parkhead on Sunday.

"I come away from the game [on 22 February] seeing a team that's very well organised," the Celtic manager said.

"In a different space to what they were at the beginning of the season, very structured in their play in the game and have got some dangerous players.

"The mentality of the team [Celtic], the consistency since then, has been very, very good. We lost that game and we have to take that and learn from it."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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The enormity of Hibs' task on Sunday is highlighted by the fact they have not beaten Celtic at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup since their final success in 1902.

However, on this occasion, they head to Celtic Park having triumphed over the trophy holders and Scottish champions just last month, 2-1 at Easter Road in the Premiership.

That has contributed to a 15-game unbeaten run that has lifted David Gray's side to third in the table and they arrive in Glasgow fuelled by the pride of Sunday's derby win over Hearts.

Celtic, though, have responded to that defeat by Hibs - and their narrow Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich - by thrashing Aberdeen 5-1 and St Mirren 5-2.

Brendan Rodgers' side remain unbeaten at home by a Scottish side since losing to Hearts in December 2023 and have beaten Hibs on their past six visits to Celtic Park, the latest five by an aggregate on 19-4.

If Hibs want to secure a rare consecutive win over the cup holders, they will no doubt have to shackle Daizen Maeda, who has embraced the added responsibility of leading the Celtic line following fellow Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi's exit to pick up the player of the month award.

Maeda is also top scorer in the cup so far this season with four goals - and has three against Hibs this season already too.

• Celtic are unbeaten at home to Hibs in 20 meetings since a 2-1 defeat in January 2010, when Danny Galbraith scored a last-minute winner.

• Hibs lost 2-0 at home to Rangers in the quarter-finals last season and last reached the semis in 2022, when they lost to Hearts.

• Hibs last beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup in March 1986, 4-3 at Easter Road.

• Celtic defeated Hibs 3-1 at Celtic Park in the League Cup in August.

• Hibs last beat Celtic twice in one season in 1992-93.

• Celtic beat Rangers in last season's final to lift the cup for a 42nd time.

• Hibs won the Scottish Cup for a third time in 2016.

What to look out for on Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Here are the main points:

• Rodgers is pleased to have had a full week to prepare for the cup tie, something he says is "pretty unique" given how busy the last few months have been.

• The Celtic boss is expecting a "great atmosphere" at Parkhead given there will be 7,000 away fans making the trip.

• Rodgers says the Scottish Cup has given him some of his best moments as Celtic manager and he sees this year's instalment as another opportunity to win a "really special trophy".

• Liam Scales is unlikely to be fit after sustaining a facial injury against St Mirren. Callum McGregor trained on Friday morning so "should be fine" but Paulo Bernardo is still unavailable and will likely miss the game against Rangers too. Auston Trusty has had a few stitches but is expected to be fit for the weekend.

• On the 500 ticket deduction for Celtic's next League Cup game at Hampden, Rodgers says he always wants as many fans in the ground as possible and "the club are dealing with that".

• On Hibs, he says it's "a credit to the club" for allowing David Gray the time to turn their fortunes around and he is "delighted" to see a young manager given the chance to do so.