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Celtic have deen dealt a triple blow ahead of their upcoming Premiership fixture this afternoon.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, Ange Postecoglou revealed that none of James Forrest, Christopher Jullien or Greg Taylor will be available for St Johnstone’s visit to Parkhead, as the stricken trio are yet to recover from their respective injuries.

Speaking about the current state of his Celtic squad, the 56-year-old said: “It’s just Forrest, Jullien and Taylor not available for selection.”

However, in more positive news, Postecoglou revealed that he will once again be able to call upon Josip Juranovic this weekend, while James McCarthy is also set to make a return to the Bhoys squad as both players look to be nearing full fitness.

On Juranovic and McCarthy in particular, the Hoops boss said: “Juranovic has trained, he’s fit and available. McCarthy has trained, he’s fit and available.”

Ange will be gutted

While the news that Juranovic and McCarthy look as if they will play some part on Saturday is undoubtedly good for Celtic, the ongoing absences of Forrest, Jullien and Taylor will nevertheless have left Postecoglou gutted.

Indeed, versatile midfielder Forrest has been a huge source of creativity and goals for the Bhoys in recent years, with the 30-year-old having scored 18 goals and registered 20 assists over 56 appearances in all competitions back in 2018/19, as well as bagging 16 goals and providing 22 assists over 47 games the following season.

Meanwhile, centre-back Jullien has proven to be a magnificent signing for the Hoops following his £7.2m arrival from Toulouse back in 2019, with the 28-year-old helping his side to keep five clean sheets, scoring one goal and averaging a superb SofaScore match rating of 7.43 over his nine Premiership appearances prior to his injury last season.

Finally, while the surprising emergence of 19-year-old left-back Adam Montgomery has somewhat covered for the absence of Taylor on the left-hand side of the Celtic backline, the 23-year-old’s continued unavailability will undoubtedly come as a blow to Postecoglou. The Scotland international is a solid and reliable option in that role, recording more interceptions per game (1.5) than any of his Hoops team-mates.

As such, with the 56-year-old hoping that his side can continue their run of excellent recent form against St Johnstone on Saturday, being unable to call upon any of Forrest, Jullien and Taylor for the visit of the Saints will certainly make this task a bit more difficult for Postecoglou.

In other news: Kyogo 2.0: Celtic nearing exciting deal for 18-goal machine, Postecoglou will love him

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Graham Roberts insists that Harry Winks needs to learn from Ossie Ardiles if he is to improve as a midfielder.

The former England international struggled immensely throughout the 2020/21 season under the management of Jose Mourinho.

Winks made a total of 15 Premier League appearances during the campaign but made just nine starts in that time.

The 25-year-old did manage to work his way back into the team under Ryan Mason after the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

He has been linked with a move away from the club, with Manchester United credited with an interest, but Roberts believes that he needs to change the way he plays, insisting that Ardiles is the example to follow.

Ardiles played for Spurs between 1978 and 1988, winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup; in 236 appearances, he scored 16 goals, but was a consistent source of forward momentum, as he looked to drive at defenders and make things happen.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “If he started improving his game and started moving forward with the ball, Harry Winks gets the ball and goes, bang, touch, centre-half, give me it back, centre-half, give me it back, he doesn’t do anything with the ball.

“As a midfield player, he should have a look at how Ossie Ardiles used to play. When Ossie got the ball, he used to run at people, and that person he’s running at has to make a decision, does he tackle Ossie or does he let Ossie run past him and just mark the player he’s marking?

“Harry Winks should start looking more forward when he gets the ball and running forward.”

Rangers have been linked with a move for Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman recently, and if he were to make the move to Ibrox this summer, he could prove to be the ideal long-term replacement for Steven Davis in Steven Gerrard’s side.

What’s the word?

According to Dutch news outlet Voetbal, Rangers are one of the foreign clubs taking an interest in the 22-year-old, who has enjoyed another excellent season in the Eredivisie.

Reims, PSV Eindhoven and Atalanta are also said to be interested in the young midfielder, who seems likely to depart the Abe Lenstra Stadium despite signing a new contract last summer.

Rangers’ dream Davis heir?

Whilst Steven Davis recently penned a new one-year contract at Rangers after playing a significant part in their title win this season, the Northern Ireland international will turn 37 next year and Gerrard’s side should start planning for a future without the influential midfielder.

The former Southampton man has averaged a solid 6.99 WhoScored rating for his performances in the Premiership this season, although he is not as much of a threat in front of goal as he once was, as he has been unable to find the back of the net in any of his 30 league appearances this term.

In that sense, Veerman could be the ideal man to replace him, as he has shown in the last two seasons that he can add a goalscoring threat from midfield. That is something Rangers have arguably lacked at times this season, with Glen Kamara having managed just one goal and one assist so far in this Premiership campaign.

Veerman, on the other hands, has seven goals and nine assists to his name in the Dutch top flight so far this season, which has helped him to accrue to a superb 7.47 WhoScored average rating. That is comfortably the best of any Heerenveen player, which suggests that they could face a real struggle to keep hold of him this summer.

Former Rangers striker Michael Mols was full of praise for the young midfielder recently, saying: “He is perfect with the ball and in possession, he’s a really great player. His passing and movement with the ball is really relaxed in a good way.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776”]

Therefore, it seems as if the £6.3m-rated Veerman would be a superb addition at Ibrox and he could even be the man to succeed Davis in Gerrard’s side, should Ross Wilson seal his transfer this summer.

In other news… Rangers suffer huge transfer blow to “special talent”, Gerrard will be fuming

A negative reaction to Celtic missing out on winning a treble this season would be ‘absolutely ridiculous’, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie, after he witnessed their Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Rangers last weekend.

The Lowdown: Celtic miss out on treble

Ange Postecoglou’s side had the opportunity to seal a domestic treble this season, prior to last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Rangers.

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Celtic were beaten 2-1 at Parkhead, however, meaning they can now only add the Scottish Premiership title to their Scottish League Cup crown that is already sealed.

The Latest: McAvennie positive

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie said winning the league would be an incredible success, bemoaning any negativity surrounding missing out on a treble:

“It was a disappointing loss last weekend. I thought we would win, I think a lot of people did. But it wasn’t to be.

“Look at it this way. This season I was happy for us to just compete. I had no thoughts about us winning anything. The fact we are gutted about missing out on a treble is absolutely ridiculous.

“Next season we should be even better and I want to see us do better in Europe but what a job he has done. It will be just remarkable if we do win this title.”

The Verdict: Title matters most

McAvennie is spot on in his opinion, with a treble something that seemed highly unlikely at the start of the season, and not something to gauge the team’s success by.

If Celtic can wrestle back the league title from Rangers it would be a superb effort by Postecoglou and his players, ensuring last season was nothing more than a blip during a strange time in the world.

A double would still be deemed a hugely successful campaign, suggesting the Hoops are only going from strength to strength going into next season, when Champions League football will hopefully return to Parkhead.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly in advanced talks to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Ralph Hasenhuttl is right to demand a bigger squad for next season in a clear message to owner Gao Jisheng to back his manager.

The Southampton boss is aiming for success at St. Mary’s but is adamant he needs more first-team players if the Saints are to evolve.

Hasenhuttl has had to contend with an array of injuries this term, including to 2019/20 top scorer Danny Ings, making it hardly a surprise that he would like his squad to be significantly reinforced in the summer.

And it is a sentiment shared by Palmer, who highlighted Southampton’s pressing style as one reason for why Hasenhuttl needs better depth. The retired Premier League footballer told FFC in an exclusive interview:

“You need it [a bigger squad], especially the way they play. They play a very offensive, closing down style, which if you don’t retain the ball well when you’ve got it, that’s hard work game after game after game. So, yeah, every manager will tell you he wants a big squad, every manager would like to have two players for every position – so two first teams in effect.”

As well as losing Ings, Hasenhuttl has also had to cope without the likes of Theo Walcott, Michael Obafemi and Oriol Romeu, with all three players currently out injured. The latter, for a matter of fact, is out for the rest of the season after picking up a serious foot injury.

Evidently, Hasenhuttl has had a bad time with injuries this term, so any plea to the Southampton board for signings this summer would be understandable.

A number of Aston Villa fans have been reacting to John Percy’s post regarding Manchester City’s interest in Aston Villa star Jack Grealish.

Reports on Friday morning from talkSPORT suggested that City were closing in on a £100m move for the 25-year-old. As to be expected, that left a number of Villa supporters worried, but two hours on from Jim White’s post, Percy gave his take on the situation.

The reliable reporter, who writes for The Telegraph, admitted that City have a genuine interest in Grealish. He added [via Twitter] that Villa intend to keep hold of the attacking midfielder and are in talks over a new contract, saying:

“Manchester City have a genuine interest in Jack Grealish and are set to make their move.. but #avfc are intent on keeping him at the club, with talks ongoing over a new contract. Villa’s owners are ambitious and serious about continuing the club’s progress”

Grealish’s current Villa deal is thought to be worth £120,000 per week until 2025, but it seems as if the club’s owners are willing to improve on that in order to keep him in the Midlands. His importance to the team is evident in his status as captain, along with his provision of 16 goal contributions in the league last season, second only to Ollie Watkins (WhoScored).

Villa fans react

Percy’s Twitter post had plenty of Villa fans excited on social media, with one describing his update as ‘class’.

“Yes, this is what I wanted @JPercyTelegraph is the man”Credit: @martyn_03″Beautiful”Credit: @espenstrand”I think I’d marry Percy”Credit: @JonBeeAVFC”Class”Credit: @Grealish10i”Percy making me feel a bit better”Credit: @_JackAvfc”Percy clearing it all up as per”Credit: @NoContextRonav

In other news: Villa willing to break club-record for one man if Grealish leaves, find out more here. 

West Bromwich Albion legend Ally Robertson says it ‘would be wrong’ to sell Matheus Pereira for any less than £25million.

The lowdown

One of Pereira’s advisers, Jolden Vergette, told the Daily Express this week that a chance for Pereira to remain in the Premier League following West Brom’s relegation ‘will present itself’.

Pereira was a shining light for the Baggies last season in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

The Brazilian scored twice as many goals (12) and provided twice as many assists (six) as any of his team-mates (via BBC Sport).

He directly contributed to 49% of West Brom’s Premier League goals last season.

Pereira only joined on a four-year permanent deal last summer after West Brom agreed a £9million fee with Sporting Lisbon (via BBC Sport).

The latest

Robertson, who played for the club between 1969 and 1986, says West Brom must extract a high enough fee to significantly improve their squad.

Their most expensive departure is currently Salomon Rondon, who joined Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Yifang for £16.44million.

“If we are going to sell Pereira, we have to then go out and buy three or four players to make the squad better,” he told the Express and Star.

“If we do that then I won’t have a problem.

“If an offer in the region of £25million or £30million comes in then I can understand us accepting that if it’s to give the manager funds to strengthen,” he continued.

“And we have to sell him for that amount, selling him for £20million or £15million would be wrong.”

The verdict

There’s no doubt Pereira deserves to be playing at Premier League level. The extent of West Brom’s reliance on him last season is pretty staggering.

West Brom must now be torn between the player’s evident quality and the investment opportunities that would arise from his sale – Valerien Ismael would have the chance to truly leave his imprint on the team through well-suited acquisitions.

If Aston Villa were to lose £100million-rated Jack Grealish to Manchester City, perhaps they would formalise their reported interest in Pereira.

And they’d certainly have the means to meet a lofty asking price if he was heading there to replace their current skipper.

In other news, Kevin Campbell issued a glowing verdict on this potential Baggies target. 

Newcastle have opened talks with former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe about the possibility of taking over at St James’ Park, according to Frank McAvennie.

It was reported at the start of the month that Howe, who left the South Coast club last summer following their relegation from the Premier League, was on the verge of joining McAvennie’s former club Celtic.

But uncertainty has since crept in. Football Insider claimed that Crystal Palace intervened first in a bid to hijack the deal, and now McAvennie has revealed that, according to his sources, Newcastle have thrown their hat in the ring.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Eddie Howe is going to be speaking to Newcastle.

“From what I hear, he’s holding back on Celtic and it looks like he’s talking to Newcastle, which is a shame because Steve Bruce has done a good job.”

Howe was Newcastle fans’ number one choice

Last month, 14,000 Newcastle supporters took part in a Chronicle Live survey, and a whopping 95% called for the club to part ways with Steve Bruce amid the threat of relegation.

10,000 of those fans voted on their preferences for Bruce’s replacement, and Howe led the way with the backing of 25%.

Transfer Tavern verdict

The hold-up in the proposed Celtic deal certainly suggests that Howe has cold feet. His preference may be another shot at Premier League management.

But it’s difficult to see him taking the job at Newcastle. Yes, they’re a huge club, but the 43-year-old has the air of an immensely ambitious coach, and the ceiling at St James’ Park is pretty low while Mike Ashley remains in charge.

Perhaps if the takeover is eventually completed that may change things, but at the moment we can’t see Howe becoming the latest in a long line of managers to be stifled by Ashley.

In other news, Newcastle have been told how much they should be prepared to pay for Joe Willock.

According to The Sun, Mauricio Pochettino wants a return to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The Lowdown: Pochettino struggles in France

Pochettino left Tottenham towards the end of 2019 to be replaced by Jose Mourinho. He eventually took the Paris Saint-Germain job a year later, taking over from Thomas Tuchel.

However, he has not had the best of times in the French capital – his PSG side were beaten to the Ligue 1 title by Lille even though Pochettino has averaged 2.21 points per game since moving to the Parc des Princes (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Poch wants Spurs return

Now, it is being reported Pochettino could return to north London and wants a second crack with Tottenham.

The report also adds the Argentinian could be Spurs’ best chance of keeping Harry Kane at the club.

The Verdict: Dilemma

Pochettino did a fantastic job at Tottenham – Dele Alli once admitted he is an ‘amazing’ tactician. Many will point out he failed to win a trophy during his time there, but he turned the Lilywhites into a regular Champions League outfit, while they even reached the final of that competition in 2019, losing 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

He also seemingly had a great relationship with Harry Kane, who recently revealed his desire to leave Tottenham (Sky Sports). Therefore, there are plenty of reasons as to why a return to Spurs could work out. On the other hand, though, it would feel like a step backwards – both parties have moved on since their previous partnership.

In other news, David Ornstein makes this Harry Kane claim.

Karamoko Dembele has long been the darling of the Celtic academy.

Blessed with pace, agility, trickery and an eye for goal, it’s obvious to see why the Hoops have been so excited about his talent for years now.

Dembele was playing for Celtic’s U20 side at the age of just 13 and then broke into the senior team as a 16-year-old back in 2019. He came off the bench against Hearts and immediately caught the eye with his close touch control.

Months later he was being named alongside Barcelona superstar Ansu Fati in L’Equipe’s crop of European football’s finest wonders. They put together six of the best young players revolutionising the game at the time.

Dembele is still only 18 years of age but two years down the line from his debut and he’s still not started a match for Celtic.

Injury issues have plagued him and he even refused a loan spell last season. However, with under a year left on his contract at Parkhead, it feels like now or never in terms of a breakthrough.

That being said, they have another fine young winger coming through the ranks that could well usurp Dembele if you believe the hype.

That happens to be Ben Doak who starred for Scotland U17s a few days ago. Just 15, it will be a while before we see him on the senior stage but he is making all the right noises in academy football.

He scored a fine looping header against Wales a few days ago, a goal that came just moments after a jaw-dropping piece of play down the right.

Doak showcased his electrifying pace and dazzling dribbling by taking the Welsh defence to the cleaners before playing in a cross.

With that exciting run, it gave out immediate Dembele vibes.

After the game, the teenager was given considerable praise by those around him. Manager Brian McLaughlin commented: “Ben Doak did well tonight and he’s a great player. He’s a good threat and great character around training as well. His attitude towards training is infectious and there’s no doubt that he loved his debut for the 17s tonight.

“It felt like every time he had the ball he could create us a chance.”

Meanwhile, Bhoys Analtyics added: “Ben Doak is a name Celtic fans should get familiar with. Real chance of producing a generational talent.”

A direct forward player, he has all of the tools to cause danger at senior level too. If he adds a more physical aspect to his game and continues scoring goals, there is every reason to believe that he’ll be on Postecoglou’s radar.

The thought of Doak and Dembele forming part of the first-team set-up in years to come is a mouth-watering one.

AND in other news, Ange may find Celtic’s new Ntcham in rarely-seen 18 y/o who does things “effortlessly”…