CONFIRMED: CALMAC RESTED, TRIO RETURN

CELTIC skipper Callum McGregor starts on the substitutes’ bench for the Scottish Cup last-16 encounter against Raith Rovers at Parkhead this afternoon.

Ange Postecoglou has decided to take the influential anchorman out of the firing line after the Scotland international was forced to wear a mask in the recent wins over the Ibrox club, Motherwell and Aberdeen.

McGregor, of course, had to be helped off with a facial injury before half-time in the previous Cup-tie against Alloa.

Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales return to the back-four while Mikey Johnston is handed a place in the starting line-up with Filipe Jota, two-goal hero against the Dons in midweek, accompanying McGregor in the stand-by squad.

Japanese midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, who was also injured in the roughhouse confrontation against the League One side, gets a place on the bench after missing the previous five outings.

TEAM: Hart; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Scales; Hatate, Bitton, Rogic; Forrest, Giakoumakis, Johnston. Subs: Barkas, Bain, Jullien, Taylor, Abada, McCarthy, Jota, Ideguchi, Maeda, McGregor, Doak.

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