Scottish Premier League - Team news: Maloney back for Celtic

Eurosport - Sat, 07 Feb 11:16:00 2009

Shaun Maloney is back from injury as Celtic host Queens Park in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

FOOTBALL Celtic Maloney - 0

Celtic v Queens Park

Shaun Maloney could return to the Celtic side. Maloney has not played since tearing a hamstring on December 13, but he and Massimo Donati have both returned to full training. Shunsuke Nakamura is in Japan ahead of his country's World Cup qualifier against Australia, while Willo Flood is cup-tied.

Queen's Park boss Gardner Speirs has a fully-fit squad to choose from after captain Richard Sinclair was declared available for the game. The defender had been battling a back injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: Georgios Samaras (Celtic) 14; Paul Cairney (Queens Park) 7

Referee: William Collum

Aberdeen v East Fife

Andrew Considine returns from suspension to the Aberdeen squad. Fellow defender Zander Diamond should also be available after missing last week's defeat at Falkirk with an ankle problem. Midfielder Gary McDonald is likely to miss the tie through injury, while long-term absentee Jamie Smith is nearing full fitness but will not feature.

East Fife are set to be boosted by the return of fit-again Jonny Smart after the defender missed last weekend's Irn-Bru Second Division defeat to Peterhead. Smart came through training this week and should be available. But midfielder Kevin Fotheringham is still serving a long-term ban after allegedly racially abusing an opponent.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: Lee Miller (Aberdeen) 10; Paul McManus (East Fife) 10

Referee: Steve Conroy

Hamilton v Dundee Utd

James McArthur is suspended for Hamilton after being sent off at Ross County in the previous round and could be replaced by new signing Rocco Quinn, who joined from Celtic on transfer deadline day. Despite training this week, defensive duo David Elebert and Jordan McMillan are still missing with hamstring injuries, while Mark Corcoran is a long-term absentee as he recovers from hip surgery.

Dundee United cannot call upon new loan signings Paul Caddis and James Wesolowski. Caddis is cup tied after playing for Celtic in the last round, while midfielder Wesolowski is still a week away from match fitness. United boss Craig Levein has the option to recall Paul Dixon and Lee Wilkie, after the pair recovered from knocks which kept them out of last weekend's Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Rangers.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: Richard Offiong (Hamilton) 6; Jon Daly (Dundee Utd) 9

Referee: Charlie Richmond

Hearts v Falkirk

Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston is set to miss out with his troublesome hamstring injury. Ruben Palazuelos is back in training after a knee injury but the fifth-round tie may come too soon for him. Saulius Mikoliunas (knee) will again be absent, while goalkeeper Janos Balogh is fighting to shrug off his neck injury.

Falkirk will be without Kevin McBride after scans revealed the midfielder had sustained a hairline fracture in his back. He will be joined on the sidelines by defender Gerard Aafjes, who has a knee injury. Manager John Hughes also has doubts over Tam Scobbie because of a groin problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: Calum Elliot (Hearts) 11; Steve Lovell (Falkirk) 9

Referee: Douglas McDonald

Inverness v Kilmarnock

Inverness welcome back midfielder Roy McBain from suspension but the game could come too soon for defender Richard Hastings, who resumed training this week following a strain on his abductor muscle. Thierry Gatheussi and Zander Sutherland miss out, while the club await the results of Filipe Morais' knee scan.

Kilmarnock have fitness doubts over Danny Invincibile (ankle) and Mehdi Taouil (back). Allan Johnston and David Lilley are both back in training but Ryan O'Leary is at an earlier stage of his rehabilitation.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: Adam Rooney (Inverness CT) 5; Kevin Kyle (Kilmarnock) 6

Referee: Iain Brines

Motherwell v St Mirren

Midfielder Stephen Hughes returns for Motherwell after being left out of Monday's fourth-round win at Inverurie as a precaution. Cillian Sheridan and Semih Aydilek are vying for a place in the squad after joining on loan.

St Mirren striker Craig Dargo is out after being sidelined with a knee and shoulder injury. Saints are still without defender Will Haining, although he is now back in training, while Franco Miranda and Stephen O'Donnell are ruled out after both had knee operations.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: David Clarkson (Motherwell) 8; Billy Mehmet (St Mirren) 9

Referee: Craig Thomson

Sunday, February 8

Forfar v Rangers

Forfar manager Dick Campbell has no fresh injury worries. The Loons boss is boosted by the return of Derek Lilley, who missed the 2-0 defeat to Albion Rovers last week through suspension. That means Campbell has a full squad to choose from ahead of the fifth-round clash with the holders.

Kenny Miller should be available for Rangers, despite struggling with a tight hamstring. The striker did not train today but has been named in the squad. The holders have no other fresh injury concerns and hope to have a better idea of how long Nacho Novo will be out for next week. The Spaniard is in plaster after hobbling out of last weekend's win over Dundee United with an ankle injury but is optimistic of a quick return to action.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Top Scorers: Ross Campbell (Forfar) 5, Graham Gibson (Forfar) 5; Kris Boyd (Rangers) 23

Referee: Eddie Smith

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. HAHAHHAHAAAAA WELL DONE BORUC ,U NOW OCCUPY THE LOFTY­­ PERCH OF BEING MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE CELTIC­­ PLAYER.SMASHING AN IRA SYMPATHISER WITH A SQUINT FACE­­ COULDNT BE FUNNIER .I HAVE TO SAY WHEN TOSH BY NAME­­ ..TOSH BY NATURE MCGINLAY ,LEATHERED THE @#$% OUT OF­­ LARSON ,I LAUGHED FOR MONTHS BUT THIS REALLY DOES TOP­­ IT. THE STORY IS .. MCGEADY ASKED TO BABYSIT FOR THE­­ POLISH BALLWASHER AND THE REST IT PURE BLISSFUL­ HISTORY­ . KEEP THE FUNNIES COMING ..NO SURRENDER !

    From nice_mr_mofo_bastard, on Sat 7 Feb 7:58PM

  2. So the free flowing celtpish stumble again and only won­ thanks to an enormous dollop of lady luck .When is­ ginger ballwasher going to realise his team cannot­ defend .when its heady tennis they just about cope­ against the smaller teams but when presented with a­ mediocre challenge from the likes of aberdeen....they­ capitulate 4-2 .OUCH !Ginger ballwasher is forever­ ranting about his teams '' quality ''­ football but ive yet to meet a celtpish fan who is­ happy with him , his tactics , selection policy and­ indeed their brand of football.One tiny slip and the­ entire beggardome will be on his already freckled­ ...hunched back :) NO SURRENDER

    From lightspeedmorpheus, on Sat 7 Feb 7:35PM

  3. wee bugsy is yet another jock who went to the EPL and­ flopped no doubt he will look good in the SPL with­ celtic a piss poor team in a piss poor league/ENGISH­ SAM

    From john, on Sat 7 Feb 3:59PM

  4. good to have maloney back in the time of the season­ when he need a full squad, hopefully the game against­ queens park will improve his sharpness ... to be honest­ i wasnt to keen when he made the switch back to­ parkhead, but he has proved me wrong he one of the most­ exciting players to watch at celtic right now (doesnt­ say much) and whats this nonsense about fringe player?­ ... if thats the case id love it if we had more players­ like him on the fringes!!

    From Philip, on Sat 7 Feb 11:14AM

  5. Paul - Maloney is a "fringe" player who stuck­ a few past your manky mob in his time!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sat 7 Feb 10:53AM

  6. paulg same pie that says mendez is th best midfielder­ in govan sorry scotland lol

    From zzgus f, on Sat 7 Feb 12:18AM

  7. nice 1 dodge honesty at its best, inver wot about­ dooooh beardsley,scores against mankey malan ,1 of the­ best teams in europe is he playing this week then or is­ he a fringe player, when maloney is fit will he b a­ fringe player, NOT, INJURYS KEEP GOOD PLAYERS­ OUT pissss players only play in friendlys

    From snudge, on Fri 6 Feb 11:47PM

  8. maloney plays on the left, dribbles the ball when­ possible in and out players and delivers a usually­ decent cross/pass. im not a celtic fan, im a don fan­ but maloney is one of celtics better players

    From dodger, on Fri 6 Feb 10:36PM

  9. good to see the hun followers (we are the village­ people) in good form this weekend. it's nice to­ see them cheerful, don't you agree?

    From Alan R, on Fri 6 Feb 9:20PM

  10. have to agree with PG, although why stop at Maloney?­ Celtic are a fringe team, only one would make it into­ the Celtic UEFA cup team, i know maloney was in it, he­ was a sub, Artur Boruc could have won it for us,­ Inverness have shown time and again Celtic aren't­ good enough, just because we're winning a two horse­ race doesn't make us a great side, Strachan and­ Smith are always telling us, when they get beat, we­ can't compete with the big money clubs in england­ and europe but when they drop points to clubs like­ Inverness i dont hear a peep about the financial gulf,­ if it's a good enough excuse when your playing­ Barcelona then explain the dropped points against­ Inverness.

    From inverkenny, on Fri 6 Feb 8:42PM

  11. hey p g some you sound like a tea bag,whats this fringe­ player @#$%, maloney is a great wee player ,when hes­ back to full fitness he will be first picked on the­ team sheet

    From snudge, on Fri 6 Feb 8:26PM

  12. Maloney is a fringe player. I dont rate him. What does­ he do?

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Fri 6 Feb 7:22PM

  13. Grow up!!!

    From Mazz McK, on Fri 6 Feb 6:48PM

  14. moan the queens park septic are ther for the taking

    From JAMESM WATP, on Fri 6 Feb 6:13PM
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