CELTIC’S Premier Sports League Cup Final against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at Hampden on Sunday December 15 has been confirmed as a 3.30pm kick-off.
Callum McGregor will be looking to continue his remarkable record on these showpiece shoot-outs which was extended to TWELVE successive victories following the Scottish Cup triumph over the same opponents on May 25.
However, the Hoops skipper may miss out on facing his old sparring partner and long-time adversary on this occasion, according to the poster to promote the glamour game.
Premier Sports present the Parkhead onfield leader alongside Daizen Maeda, hat-trick hero in the 6-0 romp against Aberdeen in a lop-sided semi-final, plus in-form German Nicolas Kuhn, who also netted against the Dons.
POSTER BHOYS AND FOES…Premier Sports’ image to confirm 3.30pm kick-off.
In the blue corner, the publicity shot shows Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami, who claimed the strikes in the Govan club’s 2-1 win over Motherwell in their last-four encounter.
Making up the numbers is midfielder Connor Barron.
Intriguingly, there is no sign of captain James Tavernier who is coming under constant criticism this season and who was removed in the 67th minute against Well with the score standing at 1-1.
Dujan Sterling came on in place of the 33-year-old right-back before Albanian forward Bajrami scored the clincher in the 81st minute.
Ironically, Tavernier hit the winner against Aberdeen in the Final of the tournament last season, but may not be in the frame this time around.
Certainly, the trophy sponsors and satellite TV giants have overlooked the defender’s claims in their Hampden countdown.
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