Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

5 things we spotted at Celtic training as hands on Ange Postecoglou rallies the troops for a sprint to the line

One last push.

That's the message at Lennoxtown as the Celtic first team were put through their paces ahead of a monumental night at Tannadice.

A result of any kind against Dundee United will deliver the Premiership title for Ange Postecoglou and company at the same venue they meekly handed it to Rangers with a 0-0 draw in March of last year.

It's almost poetic that another draw is all that's required to win the league crown back on the same turf.

But that's not the Aussie's style and he'll have hammered home a recent message he also imparted on the media that he wants his lads to be sprinting through the tape rather than crawling to the line.

It was evident at training with an especially hands-on approach on the eve of potential title glory.

Celtic training (SNS Group)

Here are five things we spotted at the foot of the Campsies.

Spread your wings

Chris Jullien's wait for a Celtic start goes on.

Nearly a year and a half ago that collision with the Parkhead post sent him into a brutal knee injury nightmare.

Christopher Jullien (SNS Group)

It's incredible what has happened in the intervening period: from being the unfortunate positive case at the centre of the Dubai debacle, to watching this season's heroes charge on and pull off a remarkable turnaround.

He seems ready and willing to finally start a game and might have done already had the current pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt not been performing at such a high level.

Get it over the line at Tannadice and perhaps he'll be afforded an emotional return against Motherwell.

Hands on

Normally a man for taking a step back and getting a wide view of training, Postecoglou asked every one of his stars for some skin before stepping out.

One last push certainly seems to be the message.

(SNS Group)

They are so close to that title there's a metallic smell in their nostrils.

It's been said so often it's almost lost meaning but the fact the Hoops are in this position from where they were this time last season is nothing short of remarkable.

Dembele decision

In a session that certainly didn't seem to feature many youth and B team members, Karamoko Dembele was present as usual.

It's through no fault of player or manager but Postecoglou will likely have wished he could get a better look at the diminutive winger.

Dembele's contract is winding down fast and the Australian maybe hasn't seen enough of him on a first-team level as he'd have liked to inform him for that decision.

(SNS Group)

It's so important to remember, though, that he is still a teenager. A player of his age shouldn't be considered an automatic starter.

He may well get some game time on Wednesday night and especially on Saturday if the title is wrapped up but that wouldn't be much to go on.

For any potential new contract, Postecoglou will need to use his well-trained nose for a player as opposed to the eye test.

Hard graft

Kyogo loves a hard press and he leaves it all on the training pitch at Lennoxtown too as he was snapped doing some lung-busting sprints.

Whether it was the wind or his hard work, that strawberry blonde mop stuck up in all directions as if he were touching a Van de Graaff generator.

Kyogo Furuhashi (SNS Group)

But while his hair might have been temporarily out of place, his play is always polished as the 18-goal man prepares for one last scoring push this season.

He's only three goals off Regan Charles-Cook's 13 in the league scoring stakes despite missing month after month of Premiership action this season.

Funnily enough, his tally of 10 is equal to Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has actually played fewer minutes than Kyogo.

But can there be any doubt who their main man is?

Cal leads by example

Will Callum McGregor wear the mask for a potential trophy lift? Now there's a question.

It's incredible to think he's still donning it three-and-a-bit months on from that first night, when some even questioned how responsible the call to mask up was.

(SNS Group)

When number 42 hoists his first league crown as captain into the air, we'll have our answer.

Since that derby night in early February his side have been top of the league.

Maybe at this point it's a good luck charm.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.