Celtic

The captain has been named from the start for Ange Postecoglou over in Portugal.

[Celtic](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/celtic-fc) have managed to build up a nine-point gap in the Premiership amid his absence but he is set to be a big boost to the Australian's plans ahead of competitive action returning on Saturday against Aberdeen. To have him back will be brilliant not just for us as a team but the whole club." The main objective of the exercise though will be to build fitness ahead of the Dons challenge while integrating new central defender

Celtic took part in a behind-closed-doors training game against Ligue 1 side Rennes this afternoon, in Portugal.

Especially when you consider everyone feared the worst in the immediate aftermath of his knee problem, which can sometimes rule players out for much longer. Celtic have been training in Portugal all week but will now return to Scotland for a full match build-up at Lennoxtown as Postecoglou and the Bhoys hunt for more trophies in the second half of the season. All seven goals came before the interval.

Ange Postecoglou's side were out in Portugal training ahead of the return of domestic action. Scottish football has been halted due to the World Cup but ...

And O'Riley scored his second to reduce the scoreline further just one minute from half time. Rennes then went out to make it four-one seven minutes from the break. But Celtic did level things up in the 18th minute with Matt O'Riley getting on the scoresheet.

Callum McGregor has branded Celtic's trip to Portugal as vital after he made his long-awaited return from injury. The Parkhead skipper has been out of ...

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Celtic B have confirmed their scheduled trip to face Cowdenbeath has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. Adverse weather conditions have led to the match ...

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The Hoops skipper has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in early October against Red Bull Leipzig. The captain was forced off in that game and ...

[Celts](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/celtic-fc) will travel to Aberdeen in what could be a pulsating clash and they'll need their midfielder if they are to maintain their nine point lead at the top of the table. The captain was forced off in that game and has missed more than a full month of football for the club. The Hoops skipper has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in early October against Red Bull Leipzig.

Chris Sutton reckons Carl Starfelt could prove as important to Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou as his captain Callum McGregor.

If the form is not working In his absence and with Carter-Vickers also missing games due to injury prior to the World Cup, Postecoglou has turned to Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz. And having Starfelt back can be crucial to that process." The midfielder is vital to the Hoops and has played an extremely influential role in his beloved club's successes over the past number of years. During the Swede's time on the sidelines, Sutton pointed to Starfelt's deputies not showing quite the same level of performance in Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh. Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate took the responsibility, played every game and managed to fill the void.

Victory for the French team in Portugal where all the goals came in the first half.

While the other three remaining clashes ended in a draw. While in the UEFA Europa League they have already qualified for the round of 32 where they will face Shakhtar; My name is Manuel Carmona Hidalgo and I will be your antifrión for this match. However, they have won the last three official matches they have played. The last time he scored was on November 17. In addition, he scored in the Cup.

The striker saw contract talks with the club collapse and is now reported to have switched agents to make a move happen.

[Sportime](https://www.sportime.gr/podosfairo/ellines-tou-eksoterikou/allaxe-agent-o-giakoumakis-ke-etimazi-metagrafi/) report that he has ditched his agent in a bid to force a transfer to the Premier League. They say Celtic want a fee of €6-7m - the higher end of that being just over £6m - to let him to next month. Giakoumakis is under contract until 2026 and is hot property after 25 goals in his first 50 games for Celtic, and after he turned 28 on Friday, there is a feeling now may be the best time to sell him to maximise the price. It's the same company who helped bring [Celtic](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/celtic-fc) understood to be willing to sell him now to avoid the risk of him running his value down. [Giorgos Giakoumakis](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/giorgos-giakoumakis) with the striker believed to have taken "the next step" in pushing for an exit.

Giorgos Giakoumakis has reportedly switched agents as he eyes a move to the Premier League. Reports in recent weeks have suggested the Greek forward could leave ...

If I am happy with it, all good, if not I'll deal with it then." That is all that concerns me. If I see there is any shift there or people are unhappy or have some issues, I'll deal with it. Giakoumakis has played 21 times for Celtic so far this season in all competitions. What's more important to me is what I see every day. Quizzed on the reports that Giakoumakis could move on, Ange Postecoglou said: "I don't have those kinds of discussions and what I deal with is what I see every day.

Greek publication Sportime is reporting Giakoumakis wants a move to the Premier League and knows time is of the essence after just turning 28.

[Giakoumakis](https://celtsarehere.com/giorgos-giakoumakis-glasgow-celtic/) signed, we had the feeling he’d be here a year or two before moving on. If the club was to get a great offer for [Sportime](https://www.sportime.gr/podosfairo/ellines-tou-eksoterikou/allaxe-agent-o-giakoumakis-ke-etimazi-metagrafi/) is reporting [Giakoumakis](https://celtsarehere.com/giorgos-giakoumakis-glasgow-celtic/) wants a move to the Premier League and knows time is of the essence after just turning 28.

Celtic concluded their preparations for the return to Premiership action with a friendly defeat to Rennes. The French side arrived after Ange Postecoglou's ...

Just before the interval both Kyogo and O’Riley scored for Celtic to make it Celtic 3 Rennes 4 at the interval. In what was a frantic first half where seven goals were shared between the sides, Ange will have been pleased with the run-out that his players got in the Portuguese sun. Celtic concluded their preparations for the return to Premiership action with a friendly defeat to Rennes.