Semi-final wounds to heal

Trying hard not to be disrespectful here, but given lower league Inverness and even lower league Falkirk reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals, we were always going to have to beat Newco to take what we hope will be our eighth treble.

Bravado is easy before the event, but this was the draw I wanted.  Celtic now have a clear target: beat Hibs, Ross County and then Newco, to move at least 12 points clear.  Effectively secure the title and pour all the pressure in the world onto the talking Mick Beale Show.  See what his chat is before taking a squad to Hampden littered with out of contract losers.

Between now and then, Ange Postecoglou’s team talks will script themselves.  He has a squad filled with habitual winners.  With very few exceptions, they need to fight for their place in the crucial games ahead.  Hibs on Saturday cannot come soon enough for a committed, energetic squad.

And as though you could forget, Ange will inform the players they left a trophy behind last season in similar circumstances.  We have an open wound to heal.