Celtic handed double injury boost as two key men BACK in the squad to face Hearts

Celtic will have two key men back in the squad to face Hearts this weekend as the injury woe facing Brendan Rodgers begins to ease up.

The Parkhead side face the Jambos on Saturday looking to get their title defence back on track after defeat to Kilmarnock last time out. They beat Feyenoord 2-1 during the week to end a dreary Champions League campaign on a high and did it with a heavily rotated starting XI. But it will be much closer to full strength this weekend - especially with Daizen Maeda and Cameron Carter-Vickers back in the squad.

Maeda has been out for six weeks while key defender Carter-Vickers has missed the last two games with a minor hamstring issue. Assistant manager John Kennedy confirmed they will both be back and available this weekend and that leaves just Liel Abada and Reo Hatate to come back. He said Abada is still 'a couple of weeks away' and Hatate isn't far behind.

Kennedy told Celtic TV: "They will both come into the squad, they are good. Abada is still working through rehab, he is probably a couple of weeks away, and Reo is slightly behind him. Other than that we are pretty good."