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Celtic are sweating over the fitness of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink ahead of their crucial SPL clash with Aberdeen at Parkhead.

The striker has returned to top form with three goals in his last three games - including his strike within 30 seconds against Hearts.

However, the Dutchman aggravated a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw at Tynecastle, as Celtic's injury problems mount up.

Fellow striker Georgios Samaras and skipper Stephen McManus are also struggling with thigh and ankle problems respectively and Vennegoor of Hesselink is now added to the casualty list.

Hoops boss Gordon Strachan said: "Jan has been playing with an injury but the way it was going at Tynecastle I had to keep him on because his height was so important.

"At least he has a lot of time to get treatment and hopefully recover before we have to play again."

However, Shaun Maloney could provide the champions with a timely boost by making only his second appearance in fourth months against Aberdeen.

Maloney is fit again after seeking the help of a German specialist after suffering two hamstring tears in the space of eight weeks.

"It has been an incredibly frustrating time for me but hopefully I'll be able to add something to the title run-in for Celtic," he told the Times.

"Right now, I don't feel like I've been helping the team much at all."

Team Talk / Eurosport