Reo Hatate, Jota and Liel Abada have returned to Celtic training ahead on Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final; they are unbeaten against Rangers this season and remain on course for a domestic treble
Sunday 30 April 2023 17:42, UK
Celtic are set to welcome back three key players for Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers – and manager Ange Postecoglou has already felt the benefits.
Postecoglou confirmed Reo Hatate, Jota and Liel Abada have come through a week of training unscathed and are in contention for Hampden Park.
Celtic are looking to take another step towards a domestic treble by beating their Old Firm rivals at the national stadium on Sunday.
Postecoglou said: "From last week everyone got through unscathed and Abada, Jota and Reo have trained all week so they are available. [James] Forrest is probably another week or so away."
Jota's previous involvement was scoring the clincher in the 3-2 win over Rangers on April 8, which all but sealed the cinch Premiership title.
Japan international Hatate has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury early in Celtic's victory over Hibs on March 18.
Israel international Abada came off the bench that day but then suffered a thigh injury while on international duty.
On their likely comebacks, Postecoglou said: "It's hugely beneficial for us as a group. I mean, even training this week has gone up a level because three more quality players have joined in training.
"All three boys have missed a bit recently and are itching to get involved.
"It certainly helps, not just with the starting XI but the ability to then go to the bench and impact the game.
"We obviously have training to go on Saturday and they need to get through that but they have had a strong week of training and I am really pleased they are available.
"We've been to Hampden a few times now, they have all been memorable occasions, even if you are not successful it's always memorable for one reason or another.
"It's a cup semi-final, we are getting to that part of the year when things get decided, so the main thing is that we're part of it, and it's up to us to get to that stage."
Celtic are now five games unbeaten against Rangers with the Ibrox side's last Old Firm victory coming in last year's semi-final.
Postecoglou admits that defeats in big games can often remain longer in the memory than victories.
"You can never put those ones to bed, unfortunately, It would be nice to think that's how it works, but I think most players and managers would tell you that [the games in which] you aren't successful tend to stick in your memory sometimes longer than the ones that you are," the Australian added.
"On the day I thought we performed well, It was a really tight game, we lost in extra-time and where we were as a team at that point in time we were really bonding together as a group and you need to go through these experiences, both good and bad, for growth and I think we used that as real growing experience for ourselves.
"We used it as an opportunity to develop and learn and as a source of inspiration moving forward to try and make sure it doesn't happen again."
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