Carter-Vickers misses derby but Goldson could play

Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss Saturday's derby meeting with Rangers but Connor Goldson could feature for the visitors.

Centre-back Goldson was substituted near the end of Rangers' victory against Motherwell on Sunday but trained on Friday.

"He will not be available for the next two games," Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said of Carter-Vickers.

"It's not longer term, but you probably won't see him until after the winter break."

• Podcast: Comedians Jennings & McClelland's Old Firm preview
• Who could settle derby & will manager experience count?
• Keep up to date with Celtic
• The latest Rangers news

Stephen Welsh replaced Carter-Vickers at Dens Park and John Souttar came on for Goldson at Fir Park.

'It's about the three points'

Saturday will be Rangers manager Philippe Clement's first experience of the Old Firm, having replaced Michael Beale in October.

"It's about three points, of course, it is a boost at that moment but in three days' time there is another fixture and you still have to perform at a top level.

"It is about three points, then again focused on three points for the next match."

Team news

Winger Liel Abada and midfielder Reo Hatate could return to the Celtic squad following long absences.

Hatate has been out for two months with a hamstring problem. Abada last featured in the 1-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox on 3 September before suffering a thigh injury while training with Israel.

Rangers are without forwards Danilo and Kemar Roofe while midfielders Ryan Jack and Nico Raskin have sat out recent games.

What they said

Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers: "This game doesn't need a lot of explanation. The team's improving, I'm improving and we're in a good place right now. [To score the winner] would be amazing of course, that would be a dream. I expect an intense afternoon."

Match stats

• Celtic have only lost one of their last eight league meetings with Rangers (W5 D2), a 0-3 defeat in May 2023.
• In all competitions, Rangers have won just two of their last 17 away derbies (D4 L11), winning back-to-back visits in December 2019/October 2020 under Steven Gerrard.
• This will be the 10th time that Celtic have faced Rangers in their final league match of a calendar year (W3 D3 L3 in the first nine). They have lost the last two such occasions: 1-2 in 2019 and 0-1 in 2018.
• Since Philippe Clement's first league game, Rangers have won more points (28) and conceded fewer goals (3) than any other side in the Scottish Premiership, winning nine of their 10 games.
• Rangers have won their final league match in each of the last five calendar years since a 0-0 draw at Celtc in 2017. Two of those wins have been against Celtic (2018, 2019).
• Brendan Rodgers has won 11 and lost one of his 14 Old Firm derbies; his win rate of 79% is the best of any manager in this fixture's history for either club in major competitions.
• None of Rangers last seven managers have won their first derby (D3 L4) since Ally McCoist in September 2011. The last Rangers manager to win his first away game with the club at Celtic was Walter Smith in August 1991 (2-0).
• Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi has scored four goals in his last three league starts against Rangers, including a brace in April.