ANGE POSTECOGLOU has given the green light for Reo Hatate, Filipe Jota and Liel Abada to play in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.
The crocked trio have been a major concern in the countdown to the last-four encounter against Michael Beale’s Ibrox side.
Hatate hasn’t figured since limping off after only 13 minutes of the 3-1 win over Hibs at Parkhead on March 18. Abada returned during the international break after sustaining an injury in training while Jota has missed the last two outings against Kilmarnock and Motherwell.
Postecoglou confirmed: “Everyone got through unscathed from last week.
“Abada, Jota and Reo have trained all week, so they are available. James Forrest is probably another week away.
“All three boys have missed a bit recently and they are itching to be involved, so it certainly helps, not just the starting eleven, but also to go to the bench and impact the game.”
The Hoops gaffer, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “This group of players have been through these scenarios fairly often and I don’t think there has been a moment that a player has been overawed.
“We’ve given debuts to boys in these kinds of games, even guys like Alistair Johnston this year. Part of us recruiting players and bringing them in is that we know that character and personality and they can cope with it.
“It’s relentless at this club and that happens every week and obviously with the big games, people put an extra incentive on them, but the expectation to perform is there every week for us.
“Even the slightest blip like last week, the players know they don’t want to drop below those standards.”
There was huge disappointment last season when the Hoops toppled at the same stage against the Govan club when the unfortunate Carl Starfelt settled a tight encounter, balanced at 1-1 with only six minutes of extra-time remaining, when he deflected a left-wing cross into his own net.
Postecoglou added: “You never put those ones to bed, unfortunately. The ones you’re not successful in stick in the memory longer than the ones you are successful in.
“Where we were as a team at that time, we were sort of really bonded together as a group and you need to go through those experiences for growth.
“We use that as a growing experience for ourselves and as an opportunity to develop, learn and use as inspiration going forward to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
