Celtic v St Johnstone – Team news, referee details, KO time & where to watch

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The Celtic Star

·29 December 2024

Celtic v St Johnstone – Team news, referee details, KO time & where to watch

Celtic face St Johnstone this afternoon as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to prepare for their trip to face theRangers at Ibrox with three points against the Scottish Premiership’s bottom of the table club…

Celtic Park ahead of the match between Celtic and Motherwell on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

Celtic extended their lead at the top of the table on Boxing Day with a 4-0 win at home to Motherwell while theRangers slumped to a 2-1 defeat at St Mirren later in the day. That has resulted in yet another glorious meltdown and has achieved the impossible in getting both Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd to agree on something – that Philippe Clement cannot survive anything other that a win a Fir Park today and his first ever victory over Celtic on 2 January at Ibrox in the Dead Rubber Derby…

OneFootball Videos

Arne Engels of Celtic scores a penalty during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

Celtic has won 26 of the last 30 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions since Ronny Deila’s Champions lost a dead rubber in May 2016. St Johnstone are winless in 16 visits to Celtic Park with 4 draws and 12 defeats since a 1-0 victory in March 2015 when Tommy Wright was in charge of the Perthshire Saints. Daniel Swanson scores the St Johnstone winner that day.

Kyogo Furuhashi at the final whistle during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

For Celtic Kyogo has been directly involved in nine goals his last six league appearances against St Johnstone for Celtic, scoring six and assisting for the other three. Good choice for first scorer today for those who like a flutter at the game.

Celtic Team News

Brendan has confirmed that Alistair Johnston will be available for selection; however, it remains to be seen what role the fullback has this afternoon with a trip to Ibrox looming. With that fixture in mind, Brendan may consider making some changes to the starting XI to ensure that his squad is ticking over nicely, with the Canadian likely to get some minutes from the bench to warm him up for Ibrox.

Reo Hatate celebrates scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles

Kasper Schmeichel will be the Celtic goalkeeper as per usual the back four could look like this: Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Alex Valle. Expect rotation in the middle of the park with Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate starting alongside the Celtic captain Callum McMcGregor. Up front Nicolas Kuhn could be back in the starting line-up after returning from injury from the bench against Motherwell on Boxing Day. Kyogo to lead the line and Daizen to play on the left wing.

Nicolas Kuhn celebrates scoring during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles

On the Celtic substitutes bench today could be Sinisalo, Taylor, Bernardo, Engels, Palma, Nawrocki,, Welsh, Trusty, Idah and Yang.

Match Officials

Today’s Referee is Matthew MacDermid, Photo Andrew Milligan

Matthew MacDermid will be the referee. MacDermid will be assisted by Frank Connor and David Dunne. Meanwhile at Clydesdale House, David Dickinson is on VAR with Graeme Leslie assisting.

Kick Off Time

The game will kick off at 3pm (Celtic Park Time).

Where to Watch

The game will not be available on TV or PPV. However, Celtic TV subscribers outside Britain and Ireland will be able to watch on the club’s streaming service.

Alex Vale at the final whistle during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles

Predicted Score

Celtic will look to wrap up a brilliant 2024 with a victory to achieve an unbeaten record at Celtic Park, having only lost to of the 49 matches played in the calendar year. Expect Celtic to achieve this today with a 4-0 victory with Kyogo getting in among the goals, maybe getting a double.

Keep an eye on events at Fir Park as there may be some comedy gold to enjoy as Motherwell entertain theRangers…

Enjoy the game and COYBIG!

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!