The international break is officially over - and not a moment too soon for Celtic fans.
It's been a bumpy ride over the past fortnight with a raft of players off representing their respective nations, simply due to what must have felt like an endless string of bad news on the injury front. A number of players were reported as pulling up either before or during games and it had the potential to cause a significant headache for Ange Postecoglou. Most, however, appear to have returned unscathed. There are a few, however, who will spend some time out. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis will play no part against Motherwell.
But Postecoglou still boasts a strong squad and most were in the thick of it on a dreary morning at Lennoxtown as torrential rain hammered down. Here's five things we spotted from the session.
O'Riley in the spotlight
Amidst what must've felt like a constant stream of injury updates from the international break, Matt O'Riley was making more headlines - and catching more eyes with his performances for Denmark U-21s. The creative midfielder has been a revelation since arriving from MK Dons less than a year ago and his rapid emergence has attracted scouts from far and wide.
There were no fewer than 39 in attendance to watch the Danes take on Croatia on Tuesday and reports indicate Newcastle United are the latest to cast an eye over the 21-year-old. But, as he has maintained all along, O'Riley was a picture of focus as he turned his attention back to Premiership matters on Friday.
Monsoon weather
No one in the Celtic squad knows better than Callum McGregor the conditions that can sweep over the East Dunbartonshire hills but even the captain looked a little fed-up with the conditions on Friday. Sustained downpours battered the country over the course of the morning and afternoon and the Celtic squad were caught up in the deluge.
Quite how some of the players from more amenable climates felt about the infamous west of Scotland horizontal rain is anyone's guess. It's a sure-fire sign that we're heading for the grind of winter football.
Maeda wraps up
From training footage released on Thursday and today's picture gallery, fans were eagerly looking for the faces they'd read were fitness doubts after the international break. Postecoglou broke the news at his Friday press conference that neither Cameron Carter-Vickers nor Giorgos Giakoumakis had make it back unscathed, while Carl Starfelt remains out for now.
But there was at least a fit Daizen Maeda to be spotted at the the morning session - if you looked hard enough. The forward had himself about as wrapped up as it's possible to be while still be able to kick a ball.
Jenz steps up
With Carter-Vickers and Starfelt still on the sidelines, 23-year-old Moritz Jenz has suddenly become the elder statesman in the Celtic backline. A July loan arrival from Lorient, it was expected the German centre-back would perhaps play a back-up role behind the duo who established themselves as so crucial to last season's Double triumph.
Starfelt's extended absence promoted Jenz alongside Carter-Vickers but with the American now out, too, it'll be the former Fulham youth alongside Stephen Welsh for at least this weekend's visit of Motherwell. St Mirren were able to disrupt that pairing highly effectively in Celtic's last Premiership outing but Postecoglou will certainly be backing them both to rise to the challenge.
Lawal gets involved
With Celtic short on options at the back, it's no surprise to see Bosun Lawal step up from the B team and into senior training. The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international arrived in the summer of 2021 from Watford and has been a regular fixture with the Colts team.
But given his involvement on the eve of Premiership action returning, the teenager looks set for a place on the bench this weekend. And while fans will be keen to see a full complement of defenders back available for selection, there'll be plenty interested to see if Lawal gets a chance to show what he can do.
