SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE BRIEFING

Team news and statistics for the weekend's action in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League

Last Updated: 10/02/12 at 18:45 Post Comment

Rabiu Ibrahim: Named in the Celtic squad

Rabiu Ibrahim: Named in the Celtic squad

(Current league positions in brackets)

Saturday, February 11

Celtic (1) v Inverness (10)

Rabiu Ibrahim is in the Celtic squad. The Nigerian midfielder signed in January and has now sorted out the red tape which has delayed his debut. Defender Thomas Rogne is a doubt with a calf injury for the Parkhead encounter.

Inverness are set to have an unchanged squad. Steve Williams has returned to training after a knee injury but is unlikely to feature. Billy McKay and Owain Tudur Jones are just short of a comeback while Aaron Doran (hamstring), Roman Golobart (ankle), Chris Hogg (knee) and Andrew Shinnie (foot) remain out.

Last season: Inverness 3 Celtic 2, Celtic 2 Inverness 2 Inverness 0 Celtic 1

Last five league matches: Celtic W W W W W; Inverness W D W W D

Top scorers (all competitions): Gary Hooper & Anthony Stokes (Celtic) 17; Andrew Shinnie & Gregory Tade (Inverness) 8

Referee: Steven McLean (Scotland)

Dunfermline (12) v Rangers (2)

Dunfermline are without on-loan midfielder Kyle Hutton who cannot face his parent club. Hutton made his debut in the midweek draw with Kilmarnock, so Pars boss Jim McIntyre must make at least one change, but it is likely to be too soon for captain Austin McCann to start.

Iain Turner could return in goal after missing the Killie clash with a back spasm in the warm up, but long-term absentees Paul Gallacher, Nick Phinn and Steven Bell remain sidelined.

Rangers have received a double boost with defender Kirk Broadfoot and striker Kane Hemmings returning from injury. Steven Naismith, Kyle Lafferty, Steven Whittaker and Jamie Ness remain on the sidelines.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Dunfermline L W L L D; Rangers L W W D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Andy Kirk (Dunfermline) 8; Nikica Jelavic (Rangers) 17

Referee: Brian Winter (Scotland)

Hibernian (11) v Aberdeen (6)

Honduran midfielder Jorge Claros is in line for his Hibs debut after the paperwork on his loan transfer was completed. On-loan Stoke midfielder Tom Soares is struggling with a hamstring strain, though. Striker Leigh Griffiths and defenders Paul Hanlon and James McPake are suspended, winger Danny Galbraith (groin) remains out and Ian Murray is just short of a comeback from a hip problem.

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown hopes to have Youl Mawene and Clark Robertson fit again. But Brown still has a lengthy injury list and may have to supplement his squad with under-19s. Defender Russell Anderson, midfielders Rob Milsom, Isaac Osbourne, Yoann Folly, Gavin Rae, Peter Pawlett and Michael Paton are all out injured along with striker Danny Uchechi.

Last season: Hibernian 1 Aberdeen 3, Aberdeen 0 Hibernian 1, Hibernian 1 Aberdeen 2, Aberdeen 4 Hibernian 2

Last five league matches: Hibernian D L W L L; Aberdeen D W D D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Garry O'Connor (Hibernian) 12; Scott Vernon (Aberdeen) 11

Referee: Crawford Allan (Scotland)

Kilmarnock (7) v Hearts (4)

Kilmarnock skipper Manuel Pascali is out for the rest of the season after suffering a broken fibula in a freak training ground accident today. Midfielder Lee Johnson completed his move to the Rugby Park club this afternoon and will be in the squad for the clash against his former club.

Hearts will make a late decision over winger David Templeton. He missed the midweek loss to Celtic with a groin injury and, with a William Hill Scottish Cup replay at St Johnstone next Tuesday, may not be risked at Rugby Park. Midfielder Ian Black is available again following suspension, but goalkeeper Marian Kello remains unavailable due to a dispute with the club's board and striker Kevin Kyle (hip) is a long-term absentee.

Last season: Kilmarnock 2 Hearts 2, Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 2, Kilmarnock 1 Hearts 2, Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 3

Last five league matches: Kilmarnock L W D L D; Hearts D W W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Paul Heffernan (Kilmarnock) 12; Rudi Skacel (Hearts) 9

Referee: Euan Norris (Scotland)

St Johnstone (5) v Dundee Utd (8)

The home side are waiting on midfielder Murray Davidson, who was forced out of last weekend's William Hill Scottish Cup tie against Hearts with an ankle injury and has been rated as having a 50-50 chance of being involved tomorrow. Boss Steve Lomas has no other fresh injury worries.

Danny Swanson misses out for United. The midfielder has returned to training in recent days after recovering from a knee injury but has been deemed not ready for the first team. New signing Milos Lacny will most likely have to remain on the bench following the win over Rangers last weekend. Long-term injury victims Scott Severin (knee) and Filip Mentel (knee) are out.

Last season: Dundee Utd 2 St Johnstone 0, St Johnstone 0 Dundee Utd 0, Dundee Utd 1 St Johnstone 0

Last five league matches: St Johnstone W W L W L; Dundee Utd W D L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Francisco Sandaza (St Johnstone) 14; Jon Daly (Dundee Utd) 14

Referee: Iain Brines (Scotland)

St Mirren (9) v Motherwell (3)

The hosts are without defender Hugh Murray, who has been sidelined for a month after sustaining a calf injury. Long-term absentees Kenny McLean (collarbone) and Darren McGregor (knee) also remain unavailable.

Motherwell are boosted by the return of skipper Stephen Craigan. The defender has served a two-match suspension and could be in the contention for the visit to Paisley. Defender Steven Saunders (Achilles) remains out, while reserve goalkeeper Lee Hollis is still sidelined with a hip injury.

Last season: Motherwell 0 St Mirren 1, St Mirren 1 Motherwell 1, Motherwell 3 St Mirren 1

Last five league matches: St Mirren D L L L D; Motherwell L L D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Thompson (St Mirren) 9; Michael Higdon & Jamie Murphy (Motherwell) 10

Match odds: H 29-20 A 13-8 D 2-1

Referee: Craig Charleston (Scotland)

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T

here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

gunner14
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

I

remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

jon_bwfc
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

E

den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

cramp
Hazard 'terms agreed' with trio

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