Ange Postecoglou says Reo Hatate and Jota have a shot at Hampden.
The Parkhead duo and winger Liel Abada are fighting to make it for Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers. Postecoglou has confirmed that James Forrest is unlikely to make it, but gave an update on the status of Hatate, Jota and Abada ahead of the last-four crunch. Asked on Celtic TV about whether he expected any of his injured stars to be back for the crunch, the boss said: “We’ll see how they go. Abada, Jota and Reo are the main three. They are due to train all week, so it will just come down to how they go during the training week.
“If they get through the training week, they will be available. Everyone got through the weekend okay. It’s only really James Forrest who probably won’t be available come the semi-final.” Jota has missed the last two matches against Kilmarnock and Motherwell, while Hatate and Abada haven’t played since the mid-March win over Hibs prior to the last international break.
All three featured when Postecoglou’s team defeated Rangers in the Viaplay Cup Final at the National Stadium in February. Celtic return to the South Side on Sunday and the manager said: “It’s going to be a really good game with everything on it with both teams knowing the consequences of not being successful on the day.
“So it will have everything that you would normally expect from a cup semi-final and it’s one that we are looking forward to. At this time of the year, they are all big games and they are games you want to be involved in rather than sitting at home watching them, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Celtic go into the contest having dropped points at home for the first time in the Premiership this term when held by Motherwell last weekend. But Postecoglou says that result isn’t needed for motivation as he said: “We don’t need motivation.
"Motivation is always there. In every game that we play, we want to try to be the team that we aspire to be and every game gives you that opportunity, so there is no greater motivation.”
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