Breakfast football

It's an early kick off at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium this Saturday (12:45) as Celtic, for the second week running visit the Highlands for a lunchtime start, this time against Inverness. Well travelled Celtic have been to Helsinki, Philadelphia, Dingwall, Helsingborg and now Inverness in successive games. Sounds like something from an episode of Only Fools and Horses!

Both sides left it late last weekend to snatch draws in time added on. For Inverness, young Conor Pepper salvaged a draw for the ten man Highlanders in the capital, whilst Neil Lennon's champions struggled to subdue a spritely Ross County as Kris Commons equalised after a thunderous free kick from Richard Brittain had opened the scoring, Counties first ever SPL goal.

For the second week running, Inverness were reduced to ten men. This time Richie Foran was sent packing after a rash lunge at Ryan McGowan on the halfway line. Foran should really know better than this, but he continually pushes the refs to the limits and he can have little complaints or sympathy after his most recent indiscretion. Considering he was just back after missing the opening two games through suspension then it would appear that he has not learned anything and surely the time has come for Butcher to get his golden bollocks to toe the line or face the punishment that fits the crime. Foran's ommission comes on top of Jones' ban and they will both sit out this TV encounter with Celtic.

Our squad is thin enough without having a man sent off every week and having two vastly experienced players missing for this game could be detrimental to our chances of remaining unbeaten this season. One thing that could sway it back in our favour is that Celtic had a European tie at Helsingborgs to contend with and they won't enjoy another trek to the Highlands in the same week either.

Ki Sung-yueng will not be here on Saturday, he will be joining Swansea for a fee believed to be around £5 or £6 million. That will give Celtic a £3 to £4 million pound profit for the 23 year old South Korean, and will help to pay off some of their £7 million debt the club revealed in February.

Skipper Scott Brown, striker Gary Hooper, midfielder Paddy McCourt and winger James Forrest all missed the 1-1 draw with Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday, Lennon saving them for the Champions league game in Sweden.

Celtic warmed up for this one with a Champions League Qualifier against Helsingborgs IF and they made a quick start to the game, Commons scoring in the first couple of minutes. Joe Ledley went off injured after an hour and Commons followed with Hooper hobbling off at the end. Samaras scored a decisive second but the scoreline is not as interesting to me as the injury list, with a trip to Inverness looming.

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The last six encounters in the Highlands (including two SFA Cup games) show Celtic winning four with one no scoring draw and a solitary victory for Inverness, one which still hurts the Celtic fans. A 3-2 victory saw Celtic blow their title aspirations in May 2011 and allowed a now defunct Glasgow club to pinch the league championship. One young man had one of his finest games for ICT that day and scored a stunning goal. Alas, Shane Sutherland has struggled somewhat since his early promise, being played mainly out wide, possibly not his strongest position, but it's not for the want of trying. Other scorers for Inverness that day were Mulgrew (og) and departing defender Grant Munro. Kris Commons scored both Celtic's goals, the second one a penalty in stoppage time.

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Inverness have the two suspended players out, bad boys Foran and Jones. Boss Butcher decided not to contest the red card decision as it would have been a waste of time. Guilty as charged m'lud. Jason Oswell has an achilles injury and Chris Hogg is still missing from his long term knee damage. Butcher has a choice to make in midfield where either Morrison or Ross will fill the gap left by the red carded pair, and a change of tactics is on the cards as well.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has midweek knocks to contend with. Rogne, Brown, Hooper, Commons, Kayal and Ledley all struggled at Helsingborgs. With McGeough, and Stokes still injured, it seems that they are joined by Kayal (ankle) and Ledley (groin) with the other walking wounded trying to make the squad for Inverness. Tony Watt and James Forrest came through the game though, and Forrest especially looked very dangerous driving at the defence and will be a handful for any defenders in the SPL. Mo Bangura could be ready to return from a thigh strain.