MARTIN O’NEILL has dispelled fears that Mika Baur will miss Sunday’s Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox after going AWOL in training at Lennoxtown today.
The German midfielder was Celtic’s matchwinner against St Johnstone in Perth in midweek and has fitted in well during his first-team appearances since his £6.8million summer arrival from Bundesliga club SC Paderborn.
Baur looks a certainty to line up alongside skipper Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren against Derek McInnes’ side at a venue where there will not be a Hoops fan in sight.
Reacting to speculation that the impressive middle-of-the-park operator could be sidelined for the first derby encounter of the season, O’Neill said: “He’s fine. He is actually fine.
JOY BHOYS…Kasper Hogh and Mika Baur celebrate the German midfielder’s winner against St Johnstone in Perth on Wednesday.
“He just picked up a bit of a knock, but will be available to train tomorrow, so he’s okay.”
O’Neill also admitted he has yet to decide on who will play in goal with new recruit Sam Johnstone and Viljami Sinisalo vying for the No.1 position.
The 33-year-old former England international shotstopper, who just agreed a season-long lon from Wolves last week, had a convincing debut at McDiarmid Park.
Johnstone produced a spectacular save in the 20th minute when it looked as though a first-time effort from Joel Cotterill was destined for the roof of the net.
Asked about the goalkeeping situation, O’Neill, speaking to CelticPlayer, answered: “I haven’t made my mind up at all.
“I thought Sam did very well. Again, it was a matter of we need to get a look at what he can do.
“It’s great to have the two of them. I think Viljami Sinisalo has done exceptionally well for us.
“And it was just, again, an opportunity to see what Sam can do now. What he could do a couple of years ago was fantastic, but what he can do now might be a totally different picture.”
GLOVE RIVAL…Sam Johnstone will battle it out with Viljami Sinisalo to see who gets the nod to play at Ibrox on Sunday.
O’Neill triumphed in both of Celtic’s Cup-ties against the Govan club last season. The Hoops won 3-1 after extra-time in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden in November and followed that up with a penalty-kick shoot-out success in the Scottish Cup quarter-final in Govan after the tie had finished in a scoreless stalemate.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Auston Trusty, Reo Hatate and Tomas Cvancara tucked their efforts behind Jack Butland with the hosts missing two of their four attempts.
Quizzed if his players be practising penalties in the countdown to the crunch, O’Neill said: “We absolutely do, we’ve always done this in Cup competitions.
“It cannot replicate the stadium, the crowd, all of that type of stuff, either home or away.
“It’s not like that at all, but at least if you’ve had a couple of penalty shots and you’re asked to do it, and if you’ve not practised. it’ll be a double-whammy.”
CELTIC VIEWS…Martin O’Neill meets the media ahead of the big game at Ibrox on Sunday. Image courtesy CelticPlayer.
O’Neill also revealed Police Scotland have visited Celtic to hold a summit with his squad ahead the visit to Ibrox.
The veteran team chief, preparing for a partisan atmosphere, added: “The police came in today for a little 15-minute meeting just to remind us of our behaviour. A timely reminder which is a good thing, as well.
“I think it’s just the overall picture. They didn’t mention this, but I’d assume one of the things would be what happens on the field of play, these things can be taken further. “Punch-ups and excessive celebrations. I’d be delighted to be celebrating in the game, but in light of what’s happened in recent fixtures, the conversations with police wouldn’t have taken place.”
BENJI AIMS TO BE IBROX BIG NOISE
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