Putting this up later than planned but better late than never.
Tonight we visit newly promoted Dundee Utd at Tannadice for a 5.30 pm kick-off in what will be our first domestic game in 13 days due to the Bolingoli affair.
Last seasons Championship winners have been absent from the top flight since since finishing bottom of the league in 2015/16.
It’s been a slow process to return as they were denied on penalties in a play off against St. Mirren in 2019 before finally getting it done last season as they finished top of the pile with 59 points from 28 games taking them 14 clear of second placed Inverness.
Last term they were under the management of former player Robbie Neilson who surprisingly jumped ship in the summer to rejoin his former charges, the newly relegated Hearts.
Micky Mellon, a veteran of lower league football down south took over the reigns this summer.
A Paisley native he achieved spectacular success with Fleetwood Town guiding them to numerous promotions and did similar work at Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers achieving numerous giant killing cup runs along the way.
But having not manged above League One level down south this has been a big step-up for him.
So far he’s got off to a great start with two wins, one draw and a solitary loss in four games.
Clearly United keep it tight with three goals conceded and four goals scored.
Personnel wise they’ve also adopted the unusual approach of more or less going with the same squad that got them promoted as opposed to taking the usual step of a significant overhaul.
Towering centre back Ryan Edwards and American midfielder Dillon Powers are the only permanent arrivals so far with Man City winger Luke Bolton arriving on loan.
Probably their most important piece of business though is holding onto striker Lawrence Shankland who has banged in 91 goals in his last 107 games including 28 in 33 games for Utd last season.
They’ll do well to keep him past the end of the transfer window in early October and despite a niggling injury meaning he’s only appeared once this season he should be available for them this evening.
Nicky Clark came off the bench to score against Ross County in their last game and helped secure a 2-1 win against the previously undefeated Highlanders and with two goals he’s their top scorer so he could get the nod also.
I’d be pretty shocked if they go with two up front and I expect our hosts to be robust, physical and well organised as they try and stifle our play and gain success from set pieces.
For Celtic there is no new injury news and we should have a full compliment after Tuesday nights 6-0 thumping of KR Reykjavík.
News continues to mount over the possible signing of big centre back Shane Duffy from Brighton with the club admitting interest in the last 24 hrs and Tom Rogic has also been linked with a move to the middle east but so far all it is is talk.
For now the focus is on this evening and a vital three points as we attempt to make up ground after having two games rescheduled.
Here’s highlights from the firs time Neil Lennon took us to the city of discovery back in 2010.
What a game that was.
I was at a stag in Donegal and en route home a group of us chanced our arm despite knowing it would be tight to stop and watch the game at a bar in Derry. Only problem was the bus driver dropped us off in the blue part of the town.
Anyway we eventually found our way to a Celtic pub and saw all the drama unfold with the Dougie McDonald penalty u-turn and the eventual Gary Hooper last minute winner.
We even made the flight home with literally around 30 seconds to spare.
The things you do to watch the Celtic.
That whole McDonald affair ended up becoming a right shit storm with Hugh Dallas involved and all sorts of shenanigans.
I could write a whole page on that alone.
....Always A Tim! 