Hamilton v Celtic preview: James Forrest set to return for visitors
Saturday 24 December 2016 14:03, UK
James Forrest will return to the Celtic squad for their Christmas Eve clash at Hamilton Academical, live on Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 5 HD from 12pm.
The winger has recovered from a hamstring complaint that has kept him out for the last four matches and will be available for the meeting with Martin Canning's side at the SuperSeal Stadium, live on Sky Sports 1.
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Midfielder Tom Rogic and left-back Kieran Tierney (both ankle) remain sidelined as Celtic look to tighten their grip on top spot in the Scottish Premiership.
Manager Brendan Rodgers said he is not worried about his side's motivation as the winter break approaches, despite having 14-point over Rangers lead at the top of the table.
"It is always about the commitment, the motivation will always be a little bit up and down when there are so many games, so much training but it is what you commit to," he said.
"That's what is important and the players have committed at the beginning of the season to a series of goals and achievements we wanted to create this year. Up until now they have been absolutely brilliant in their focus and effort to achieve those.
"I've tried to manage the squad as best as I possibly can to ensure that we are having enough freshness and energy and intensity into the games and we have players who maybe aren't playing so much but when they come in they are performing at a very high level.
"That's a credit to how they have been training and how they have been really concentrated even when they haven't been playing. So it really has been, up until now for us, a squad game and it shows you the spirit we have fostered here that everyone feels part of what we are doing and we have to continue that way."
Hamilton's Grant Gillespie is suspended for the match while Greg Docherty begins a two-month absence after having surgery on a broken foot but Dan Seaborne is pushing for a return from a foot problem.
Gramoz Kurtaj (ankle) and Lennard Sowah (hamstring) are likely to miss the game but be back for Tuesday's game at Aberdeen.
Remi Matthews (shoulder) and Jesus Garcia Tena (knee) remain out while Craig Watson is getting closer to returning from his long-term knee injury after playing 90 minutes for the U20s in midweek.
