CONFIRMED: BOYATA, NTCHAM RETURN, HAYES STARTS

DEDRYCK BOYATA will return to the heart of the Celtic defence for the visit of Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side at Parkhead for today’s High Noon showdown.

The Belgian international centre-back missed the 1-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park, but has now fully recovered from injury to take his place alongside Kristoffer Ajer.

French midfielder Oliver Ntcham, who scored the winner against the Govan outfit in September, but hasn’t made an appearance since the loss at Ibrox in late December, also returns following his recovery from injury.

Neil Lennon has given the nod to Jonny Hayes to play wide on the left instead of Scott Sinclair.

Kieran Tierney takes his place in his usual No.3 slot following scares over a calf pproblem that forced him to withdraw from the Scotland Euro 2020 squad for the games in Kazakhstan and San Marino.

Long-term crock Tom Rogic, who hasn’t played since the 4-3 triumph over Aberdeen at Pttodrie on Boxing Day, is on the substitutes’ bench.

Today’s match also marks Callum McGregor’s 50th appearance for the champions in this campaign.

A win will extend Celtic’s lead at the top of the Premiership to 13 points with only seven games left to play.

TEAM: Bain; Lustig, Boyata, Ajer Tierney; Brown, Ntcham; Forrest, McGregor, Hayes; Edouard. Subs: De Vries, Toljan, Simunovic, Sinclair, Rogic, Burke, Weah

* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Rangers at Parkhead this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.