REVEALED: McCARTHY ON HOLD

JAMES McCARTHY’S long-awaited Celtic debut will have to wait another day.

Ange Postecoglou has left the 30-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder out of his aquad for this afternoon’s visit of Dundee for the first Premiership game of the new season at Parkhead which will be watched by 24,500 fans.

McCarthy, who joined his boyhood idols five days ago after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of his contract in June, came close to joining the Hoops in 2009 when he was on the verge of leaving Hamilton Accies. He was persuaded to join Wigan where he spent four years before catching up with boss Roberto Martinez at Everton.

Postecoglou has decided the player is not up to match fitness and his first appearance has been put on hold.

However, striker Odsonne Edouard, who is ready to leave the club this month with Southampton and Brighton poised to battle for the £20million-rated Frenchman, as CQN reported yesterday, could start against the top-flight newcomers.

Last season’s top scorer with 22 goals was left out of the starting line-up in favour of Kyogo Furuhashi in the 4-2 win over Jablonec in the Czech Republic on Thursday.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

Hart, Bain, Barkas, Ralston, Starfelt, Bitton, Welsh, Urhogide, Murray, Montgomery, Taylor, Soro, McGregor, Robertson, Christie, Turnbull, Rogic, Abada, Forrest, Furuhashi, Ajeti and Edouard.

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