Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has close to a full squad for the Ladbrokes Premiership encounter with Aberdeen. Only Gary Mackay-Steven is unavailable as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery. Defender Jozo Simunovic has resumed training after a knee injury but is short of match-fitness, while Stefan Johansen looks to be on his way to Fulham.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Lustig, Tierney, Janko, Sviatchenko, Ambrose, Toure, O'Connell, Brown, Bitton, Armstrong, Griffiths, Forrest, Roberts, Dembele, Ciftci, Izaguirre, Christie, Rogic, McGregor, Commons, De Vries, Fasan.

Aberdeen skipper Ryan Jack could still face Celtic on Saturday, despite being booked in for a knee operation the following day. But midfielder Peter Pawlett is definitely out with a groin strain. Callum Morris is back in contention, though, after stepping up his recovery from an Achilles problem. Jonny Hayes (hamstring) remains on the sidelines. 

Provisional squad: Lewis, Logan, Shinnie, Considine, Taylor, Reynolds, O'Connor, Jack, McLean, Storie, McGinn, Rooney, Stockley, Burns, Storey, Morris, Wright, McKenna, Ross, McLennan, Alexander.

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Midfielder Paul Paton reckons St Johstone will face an Inverness side desperate to fight for manager Richie Foran on Saturday.

Caley Thistle have lost their opening three league fixtures, including last weekend's 5-1 drubbing by Hearts. 

"I think they're just on a blip," said Paton.

"They still have the core of the team that did so well in the last few years. They have a manager in there that they obviously respect. He's been a team-mate for a long time, so he will be close to the lads up there.

"I've met Richie a number of times and I'm sure he'll turn things around. I think he'll get it right. He's been big and brave in the last few weeks. I've seen interviews he's given in the last few weeks where he has come out and admitted the results were his fault. 

"That takes the heat off the players and, for a manager to be willing to do that, I think the players will give their all for him. He's showing leadership, even though he will know deep down it's not all his own fault. But that means the players have no pressure on them going into this weekend."  

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I can't help wondering if a member of Inverclyde Athletics Club is hiding within the Morton mascot's suit...

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What do you make of the changes to the Champions League?

Uefa has announced that the top four leagues in its co-efficient rankings - currently Spain, Germany, England and Italy - will all be guaranteed four spots in the group stages from season 2018-19. 

This has come about to stymie the threat of a breakaway European Super League by top clubs.

Uefa says the Champions route, by which Celtic reached the group stage, will be protected. However, the full details of the new-look competition have yet to be unveiled and there is no guarantee the current five places reserved for winners of the continent's smaller leagues will be preserved. 

Here's what the Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster had to say about the changes: "There is still a lot to be worked through before we can comment fully on these changes, with UEFA stating that full details of the access list for both competitions will be finalised by the end of the year. 

"What we can say now is that, after lobbying hard for the retention of the Champions route for Champions League qualification, the SPFL is therefore pleased that the Champions route has been protected as part of these changes.

"We will monitor this issue and these changes very closely and pledge to continue to fight to protect the best interests of Scottish football in the wider European and global context." 

Other changes implemented by UEFA, to take effect in 2018 when the new three-year commercial cycle begins, will see clubs judged on their own records, deleting the country share for the individual club coefficient unless that coefficient is lower than 20 per cent of the association's coefficient. That could help Celtic's bid to qualify for the group stages but may make it harder for the rest of Scotland's clubs to make it past the qualifiers. 

Historical success in the competition will also be acknowledged in coefficient calculation with points awarded for previous European titles while financial distribution to clubs will be increased significantly for both the Champions League and Europa League. 

The Champions League will continue to have a 32-team group stage and a 16-club knockout phase and the Europa League remains at 48 teams, although in a new development the winners will automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage rather than receive the ticket to the play-off round they are currently awarded. 

 Phew - you got that? Let us know what you think of the proposals and how they could affect Scottish football.

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East Fife have signed goalkeeper Mark Hurst, the 20-year-old who was farmed out to Elgin City last season, on loan from St Johnstone.

The League One club stated: "This is due to goalkeeper Willie Muir agreeing to leave the club for personal reasons." 

The 23-year-old Muir had only joined the Fifers this summer after leaving Queen's Park and made five appearances for Gary Naysmith's side.

Meanwhile, League Two outfit Arbroath have signed 20-year-old midfielder Jason Brown from Inverness Caledonian Thistle.  

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Our colleagues in Wales are reporting that Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall is the subject of a £5m approach from Premier League side Hull City.

Marshall, 31, has made more than 280 appearances for Cardiff since arriving from Norwich City for free in 2009.

We can't help but wonder what his Scotland team-mate Allan McGregor makes of the news. The Hull keeper is currently out of action with a back injury.

Read the full story

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Image source, Getty Images

Motherwell centre-back Ben Heneghan has been speaking of the pain of losing an injury-time goal at Ibrox last Saturday, when Kenny Miller won the game for Rangers.

The 22-year-old centre back, who signed from Chester City in the summer, said he felt he had been "kicked in the stomach". 

Prior to that there was a 2-1 defeat at St Johnstone and a 5-0 thrashing by Celtic at Parkhead in the last-16 of the Betfred Cup. 

Ahead of Well's home game against Dundee, Heneghan: "The game against Rangers was a good game to be part of and I am looking forward to the next one. 

"That was massive for me and my development. I am not used to playing in grounds the size of Ibrox, with 48,000 fans there and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

"Losing in the way we did at Celtic was a bit frustrating. 

"But you have to learn those lessons and the next time you go there, you have to realise they are a good side and you have to deal with things better. 

"It is a big test for me as it is a massive step up. I try to progress in each game and get better and better."

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Image source, SNS

The Championship looks a really attractive league this season, and there's something very appealing about all five league fixtures kicking off at the same time tomorrow afternoon. Here's the fixture list: 

• Ayr v St Mirren
• Dundee United v Raith Rovers
• Dunfermline v Queen of the South
• Falkirk v Dumbarton
• Hibernian v Morton

Remarkably, Falkirk and St Mirren already have to make up eight points on joint-leaders Raith Rovers and Hibernian, this pair having nine points from their opening three games.

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Dan Seaborne turned his back on the Indian top flight and interest from Cyprus, Greece and England's League One to join Hamilton Accies this week - because he could not bear to be without his girlfriend and dog.

The 29-year-old central defender rejected a new contract with Partick Thistle this summer and signed a deal with Calcutta-based Mohun Bagan.

But he was unable to take his dog with him, while his girlfriend needed to stay in Glasgow for another year to finish her university course. 

"I met clubs from Cyprus and Greece and everything was there to go and do it - and I had two offers on the table from League One in England," said the Englishman, who has joined Accies along with former Hartlepool United striker Rakish Bingham. 

London-born Bingham scored four times in 38 appearances Hartlepool last season before being released by the League Two outfit.

As the pair arrived this week, Latvia left-back Antons Kurakins reached an agreement to terminate his contract after falling out of favour with player-manager Martin Canning.

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Kilmarnock defender Miles Addison faces five to six weeks out with the ankle injury that forced him off against Ross County last weekend. Rory McKenzie also misses out with a thigh problem, but he will return after the international break. Greg Kiltie has trained following a hamstring injury and is set to return while latest signing Dapo Kayode comes into the squad. 

Provisional squad: MacDonald, Smith, Webb, Taylor, Boyle, Dicker, Smith, Jones, Bojaj, Coulibaly, Kiltie, Burn, Frizzell, Waddington, Hawkshaw, McFadzean, Boyd, Cobain, Adams, Hendrie, Kiltie, Kayode, Davies.

Rangers are likely to give new striker Joe Garner his debut. Midfield duo Matt Crooks (ankle) and Josh Windass (hamstring) have both returned to training but, like striker Martyn Waghorn (hamstring), they will have to wait until next week's friendly with Linfield before taking the next step in their recovery. Midfielder Jason Holt (ankle) is still confined to gym work but hopes to return to outdoor activities next week. 

Provisional squad: Foderingham, Tavernier, Hill, Kiernan, Wilson, Wallace, Barton, Miller, McKay, Dodoo, Garner, Forrester, Halliday, Hodson, Rossiter, Kranjcar, Bates, O'Halloran, Gilks.

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Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack will have knee surgery on Tuesday amid reports in the local media that he could still feature in tomorrow's Scottish Premiership match against Celtic. 

The midfielder will have an operation to repair a damaged cartilage after playing through the pain in recent weeks. 

Dons manager Derek McInnes is hoping he will be sidelined for "weeks rather than months". 

Jack's fellow midfielder, Peter Pawlett, definitely misses the match against the reigning champions with a groin strain, while winger Jonny Hayes again misses out. 

However, defender Callum Morris is added to the squad after coming through the reserve game.

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It's available on the iPlayer. Click here to view.

Celtic are not in the Champions League to "make up the numbers", says manager Brendan Rodgers despite describing their opponents as the world's elite. 

The Scottish champions are in Group C with Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach.

 "We know the teams we are up against are huge teams, but it doesn't stop us trying to fight and seeing where it takes us," said Rodgers. 

"We are not in it just to make up the numbers."

Read the full story here.

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Rangers boss Mark Warburton is still searching for his favoured starting XI - despite an unbeaten start to their Premiership campaign and securing seven points form a possible nine.

Warburton's side travel to Rugby Park tonight to take on Kilmarnock and the Englishman expects a tough game.

"We've got seven points from nine. We were frustrated to drop two points at home to Hamilton but it was a big experience and big occasion with a lot of emotion involved for many of the players and the fans.

"So we're happy with the start. Don't forget we've got 10 players coming into a squad and gelling. Have we found our right selection yet? Probably not but that's normal at this stage."

We'll provide live text and radio commentary of tonight's game...

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