CELTIC MANAGER ANGE POSTECOGLOU has told CeltsAreHere he has no reservations about fielding any of the bhoys who played at the World Cup against Aberdeen, with Josip the obvious exclusion.

CCV, Daizen Maeda and Aaron Mooy are all fit and available for the game at Pittodrie, returning from Qatar. There was concern the Aberdeen game could come too soon for some of our WC bhoys.

Ange revealed they all had a week off, just like the guys who didn’t go to the World Cup.

The Celtic manager told CeltsAreHere: “They’ve all had a week off; all the bhoys had a week off after Australia.

Reuters/Carl Recine

“Once the guys you mentioned [World Cup Celts] finished their World Cup commitments we gave them the week off, and that’s plenty. I think their eager to be back and play their part.”

It’s a massive boost to have CCV back and ready to go. The American international will likely partner Carl Starfelt at Aberdeen. The centre-back pairing that won Celtic a league and cup double last season hasn’t really been able to get going this season. Carl Starfelt has had to deal with two separate injuries since the beginning of the season.

Josip Juranovic will not be back for any of the pre-Christmas games. Once he finishes up with his country on Saturday, the player will have a week off. It means the Croatian will miss the Aberdeen, Livingston and St Johnstone games. However, he could be played against Hibernian on December 27.