Dundee Utd V Celtic - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Rankin returns for Hoops clashDundee United welcome back midfielder John Rankin from a leg injury when they host Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic on Sunday.Aidan Connolly could also return from illness but midfielder Calum Butcher is doubtful with a shoulder injury.Mario Bilate (hamstring), Paul Paton (knee) and Ryan Dow (groin) have all been ruled out for the rest of the season.United manager Jackie McNamara hopes the clash can bring out the best in his side as they attempt to return to winning ways.The Tangerines have had to endure a tough spell of late and last weekend's 1-0 league defeat at Aberdeen came after they had ended a 10-game winless streak at home to Hamilton the previous weekend.United are still fourth but their form of late has taken the shine off what had looked a very promising season as recently as January, but McNamara sees no better time than to start getting results again than when Ronny Deila's champions-elect roll up on Tayside for this weekend's televised meeting.McNamara said: "It's got the makings of a very good game."They don't come much bigger than Celtic at home."We know what's at stake and we want to finish the season as strongly as possible."We won't need any motivating for Sunday's match because it's live on television and there's a lot of interest."You always hope an occasion like this can bring out the best in the players."That's the way we've got to look at it and hopefully it will come Sunday."Celtic boss Deila expects another feisty but hopefully card-free encounter.The clubs have met six times this season, including a replayed Scottish Cup tie and a Scottish League Cup final, with the Parkhead side winning the four matches in Glasgow but still looking for a win at Tannadice.Four of those meetings took place in March and familiarity occasionally led to contempt with six players dismissed in total, four of whom were wearing United colours.After losing the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final to Inverness at Hampden Park last week, Deila's side bounced back with a 2-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night.And on the return to Tayside this weekend, Deila is looking for the league leaders to take another step towards the title.And while the Norwegian knows it will not be easy, he is hoping both sides finish with 11 men."I've a big respect for Dundee United, they've had a good season," said the Hoops boss, whose side finished the semi-final last week with 10 men after goalkeeper Craig Gordon was sent off."It was tough for them when they lost two players in the transfer window - we got Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong - but they are still a good side."I expect a high intensity game but hopefully without any red cards so we can play 11 against 11That is the most fun thing to do."We have been focusing on the next game all the time
We did well on Wednesday to get through against Dundee and it is another important game on Sunday
You can see it (the title win) getting closer but it's going to be a tough game."Deila has no qualms about coming up against the same team so often over the course of a season.The former Stromsgodset boss admits it is different from what he has been used to in his homeland but insists it is no big deal."You can't meet more than three times in Norway," he said."I've only been here one season
If you ask me after 10 years I might think differently but it is no problem for us to play the same team a lot of times."Deila is boosted by the return of defender Adam Matthews and midfielder Stefan Johansen.Both players were rested for the Dundee game but come back into contention.Midfielder Charlie Mulgrew has made good recovery from his hamstring tendon injury but is not quite ready and right-back Mikael Lustig (ankle) is still out
Source : PA
Source: PA