Image source, SNSCeltic 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.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari sees Sunday's trip to Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership as a great opportunity despite the Perth side's predicament.
The Saints are bottom of the league after three successive defeats, but Valakari expects his players to compete against the champions and league leaders.
"It's a great opportunity," Valakari said. "Nobody is expecting anything from us in that match.
"Firstly we will need to see who is capable of playing with games coming so quickly.
"But we compete in every match. It doesn't matter if we go to play Celtic or go to play at Ibrox or play in front of our home fans, we want to compete, and nothing changes. We go on Sunday and we compete."
Image source, SNSCeltic 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.
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari admits there is an urgency to get some of the Perth club's recruitment business done at the start the January. (The Courier), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSJason Holt admits it is "going to be difficult" for St Johnstone
Jason Holt admits St Johnstone are "going to have a big fight on our hands" to lift themselves off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, but the midfielder insists "we are more than up for it".
Saints' 2-1 home defeat by Dundee on Boxing Day means they have now lost seven points from winning positions in their past four matches.
"If we get into winning positions, we need to start keeping hold of that and turn it into three points," Holt told Saints TV.
"As soon as we concede the first goal, they get a bit of confidence and put a bit of pressure on. We have to hold on to that position, even if it's a drawing position, longer. We have got to do more to stay in the lead for longer."
New manager Simo Valakari's side have taken one point from five matches and their run is highly likely to get worse before it improves given they travel to Celtic Park on Sunday.
"It's going to be difficult," Hold added. "We need to take responsibility as players and we need to be better.
"The games are coming thick and fast and it's just about staying together as a team and staying strong and believing in what we are doing and that things will turn and results will get positive again.
"The dressing room is more than together and we are ready for whatever lies ahead."
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 Boxing Day defeat by Dundee United.
Here's what some of you said:
Dunc: If Celtic score less than 10 we will have done well. We are awful. Doomed.
Mikey: Lose matches from winning positions regularly. Gutless squad who have no interest in digging in to do the hard yards and hard tackles. United time wasted a lot but we accepted it without a whimper. Naivety all over the pitch. Simo Valakari wants fans to attend and watch, not like this. Failure to do the simple things means relegation is imminent.
Ally: Absolutely shocking display. That squad should hang their heads in shame and the manager has talked a good game up to now, time to stop talking and start delivering.
Roy: I'm not sure if the film about St Johnstone's season is still being made. If it is, at the moment it feels like the bit in the Shawshank Redemption when the tunnel is being crawled through. That film ended well. My fear is that by the end of the campaign our film will be more suited to the horror channel.
Watch highlights of Dundee United's 2-1 win at St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNSSamuel Dalby has scored nine goals in the Scottish Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee United player.
Benjamin Kimpioka has assisted two goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.
Vicko Ševelj has assisted three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Dundee United player has more.
United won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 15 April 2023 against Motherwell (10 games without a win).
Saints have lost their past three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 30 October 2024 to 9 November 2024.
Dundee United won after trailing at half-time in the Premiership for the first time since 15 April 2023 against Motherwell (five games without a win after trailing at half time).
St Johnstone have lost 13 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (16) have lost more.
United have won eight points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (nine) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.
St Johnstone felt sorry for themselves in Thursday's 2-1 home defeat by Dundee United, admits McDiarmid Park boss Simo Valakari. (Courier - subscription), external
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "It's a big disappointment. In key moments, not doing well enough. We don't defend when we should, and when you are bottom of the league you feel a bit of fear.
"But it's up to us, we need to fight our way through it. It's easy to say to the players to be confident but it doesn't work that way.
"We just need to keep going and do the simple things, and focus on every moment. Then you can start getting your confidence.
"But it's a tough moment. The players are feeling a lot of pain, the supporters are feeling a lot of pain, everyone is feeling a lot of pain.
"But we stick together and keep going. I said to the players it's not good enough. We have good players, but we need more [from them].
"The players know it, they are honest and brutal about themselves. They know nobody is feeling sorry for you, we need to get ourselves out of it."
Dundee United's impressive return to the Scottish Premiership continued as they came from behind to beat St Johnstone and move to within six points of third-place Aberdeen before the sides meet on Sunday.
Jim Goodwin's side were looking to build on a creditable point against Celtic, but trailed to Makenzie Kirk's well-taken goal one minute before the break.
However, a terrific effort from Glenn Middleton levelled the game six minutes into the second half, before the league's top scorer Sam Dalby headed them in front on the hour mark.
It leaves St Johnstone two points adrift at the foot of the table.
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSSimo Valakari conceded pre-match that his side needed a result given their position at the bottom of the Premiership.
They looked good at the break but were ripped apart in the first 15 minutes after the restart and now face a daunting trip to play leaders Celtic next.
They showed in patches that they can play good football and created some decent opportunities. And in Makenzie Kirk, they have a young player who is a threat and can make it count with five league goals to his name.
However, right now, things are not coming together to deliver a full 90-minute performance and it is costing them dearly with just one win in their last eight.
Image source, SNSMakenzie Kirk was St Johnstone's liveliest player as he scored the goal which put them in front before the break. The 20-year-old now has five in the Premiership this season.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have Lewis Neilson, Kyle Cameron and Nicky Clark back in their squad.
Barry Douglas (calf) is still out along with long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).
Dundee United are again without Louis Moult (shoulder) and Craig Sibbald (groin).
Image source, SNSNicky Clark is available to face former club Dundee United on Boxing Day
Experienced pair Kyle Cameron and Nicky Clark have returned to fitness as St Johnstone look to move off the bottom of the table.
Defender Cameron and attacker Clark missed Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Hearts but are set to return to the squad for the Boxing Day visit of Dundee United.
Speaking on Christmas Eve, manager Simo Valakari said: "Everyone trained today. Kyle trained, Nicky trained, Graham Carey trained and everyone.
"So all the players who are available for Thursday are available now."
Image source, SNSAgainst no other side has Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin won more Scottish Premiership games as a manager than his six against St Johnstone (also 6 v Ross County). However, only one of those six has come in his seven away games against the Saints (D2 L4), winning 1-0 in August 2022 with Aberdeen.
Dundee United have scored at least once in nine of their last 10 away league games, only failing at Aberdeen in October (1-0 defeat).
St Johnstone have lost 11 and won just two of their 17 home league games in 2024 (D4). It's the most home defeats by a side in a single calendar year in the Scottish Premiership since 2018, when Hamilton lost 13 and Dundee lost 12.
Dundee United are looking to earn back-to-back top-flight victories over St Johnstone for the first time since April 2012.
St Johnstone's last home league meeting with Dundee United saw them win 1-0 in May 2023; the Saints last won successive home Scottish Premiership meetings with the Tangerines in December 2014 (3 in a row).
Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland
One of the Premiership's newest managers, Simo Valakari, is facing a big challenge at St Johnstone.
With just one point from a possible 12 so far in December, the Perth side are a point adrift in 12th place.
However, Saints supporters will know their three defeats so far this month have been by a margin of one goal, while the point they picked up away to Aberdeen came only after the Dons had battled back from a goal down.
The short version is that it's tight in this league and Valakari's side need to find a way to end up on the right end of marginal games.
Dundee United are their Boxing Day visitors, aiming for their second straight win over Saints.
With three wins and a draw out of 11 so far, Finnish former Motherwell player Valakari has not enjoyed the strongest of starts at McDiarmid Park but he's not alone. Hearts' Neil Critchley has five wins from 15 while David Gray at Hibernian has only recently pushed his win percentage in to the high 20s.
Again, it's tight in the Scottish top flight but that also means a win can go a long way and Valakari still has it within his gift to guide St Johnstone off the bottom of the table in time for the New Year.
Read all the Boxing Day Premiership picks
Sam Miller
Fan writer
What a difference a couple of weeks can make.
From previously discussing how the gaffer had 'credit in the bank', murmurs of being 'out his depth', 'ineptitude' and 'tactically naive' are beginning to creep into the Perth faithful's opinion of the Finn.
A match against a struggling Hearts team in front of a sold-out away end and off the back of a sore defeat to At Mirren should have been all the team needed to bring some festive cheer back to Perth.
A formation with players deployed out of position didn't work and a brief fightback was just papering over the cracks. The fans wanted some fight but didn't even get that.
All we want now is a busy January in the market and an end to the square peg/round hole situation.
Sam Miller can be found at The Dogger Saints Podcast, external
St Johnstone need to find a way to win ugly, says winger Graham Carey, 35. (Courier - subscription), external
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone boss Simo Valakari is challenging his players to "show what kind of team we are" after slipping to the foot of the Premiership table.
Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Hearts meant the Edinburgh club leapfrogged the Saints who now sit bottom.
That's now four games without a win this month as the Perth club prepare to welcome Dundee United on Boxing Day.
"There's nobody behind us," Valakari said.
"We have put ourselves in this position and we are the only ones who can get us out of it.
"I believe in my players. They are honest players who are not making excuses about the situation.
"They are not feeling sorry for themselves. They are suffering.
"Are they at 100 per cent maximum confidence? Of course not, because they are losing football matches.
"But at the same time, we are a football team and sometimes you lose, and in those moments you need to show what you are. This is kind of our moment. We need to show what kind of team we are.
"We need to be ready for our next match at home. That is the opportunity when it all starts, the climbing of the table."
Saints fans, we asked for your views on Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Hearts.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Les: Yet again basic errors are costing us. First half was so poor, Nicky Clark was a huge miss. Simo Valakari has to get this sorted in January or it's Championship football next season. A goalkeeper, a right back and possibly another centre half are the bare minimum.
Stuart: Again poor defensively and in goal. A continuing trend from last January. Fans starting to question Simo need to remember this squad was built by Craig Levein and has no options out wide, defensively or any confidence. We need to break this habit of January windows fixing previous seasons errors and break it sharp.
Perry: The last few years we have stayed up without being a goal threat but having a decent defence. Simo will need a miracle or Ross County to finish last to keep us up. The club's been run into the ground and it's now all caught up with us.
Duncan: Not good enough. January signings? No one worth having would want to come. The Championship beckons. Can see us finding it even harder to avoid further relegation next season.
Gordon: Where do you start after that dross? First half was a disgrace and had we been 3-0 down we could have had no complaints. Lacked pretty much everything required to win a football match. Team selection a bit baffling and most of the players were gutless. The second half was better (couldn't really have been worse) but yet again, defensive frailties cost us dearly.
Henri: Starting to lose confidence with Simo, he seems to play a different formation and team every week. We need a definite tactic to save us from relegation. David Keltjens was fantastic when he came on last week, surprised he didn't start.
