Scottish Premiership: Celtic v Motherwell team news
Saturday 26 December 2015 12:16, UK
Celtic will assess the fitness of striker Leigh Griffiths ahead of the Scottish Premiership match with Motherwell on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who signed a new five-year contract with the Hoops on Friday, has missed the last two games due to a calf injury.
Griffiths took his goals tally for the season to 19 in his last outing, a 3-1 victory away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on November 29.
Former Dundee United striker Nadir Ciftci has started the subsequent fixtures against Fenerbahce and St Johnstone, scoring twice in the 3-0 win in Perth last Sunday, and looks set to lead the line again against Well.
Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton returns after missing the win at McDiarmid Park with a knock picked up in the 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce, but long-term injury victims Scott Brown (knee) and Charlie Mulgrew (thigh) remain sidelined.
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has no fresh injury problems as he prepares his team for the trip to Celtic Park.
McGhee has confirmed teenager Ben Hall will retain his place in central defence after impressing in the 3-1 win over Dundee at Fir Park last weekend, but he will be without former Celtic left-back Joe Chalmers who is recovering from a muscle tear.
Motherwell, who are looking to stretch their unbeaten run to three games, could give James McFadden some game time on Saturday following the forward's decision to join the club for the third time.
Prior to the match, Celtic will unveil a statue to the club's legendary captain Billy McNeill, which will stand at the entrance of the Celtic Way in proximity to those of club founder Brother Walfrid, former manager Jock Stein and Jimmy Johnstone, who was voted the Greatest Ever Celtic in 2002.
