Celtic will be force to be reckoned with once 3 key stars return as Rangers warned 'big difference' is incoming

Billy Stark expects Celtic to crank it up a gear when they get their big guns back and firing for the final title shoot-out.

Boss Brendan Rodgers is hoping captain Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate will be back after the international break and Cameron Carter-Vickers to be over his ongoing hamstring issues. Stark knows injuries to the star trio have had a major impact but their return should bolster the squad as they get ready to fight for league and Scottish Cup glory.

The ex-Celtic star said: “Hatate and McGregor make a big difference to the middle of the park and that’s no disrespect to the players in there just now because they are good players. People expect teams to continue to function as normal but when you lose key players it can be tough. You can go back to when John Barnes lost Henrik Larsson, when he broke his leg. Celtic suffered after that and his loss was huge. When you lose key players you need to try to paper up the cracks. In Callum and Hatate’s cases, that is what Celtic have been trying to do.

“When they come back, along with Carter-Vickers, who has been a real stalwart in the middle of defence, it will be a boost. CCV exudes authority and physicality and they have been a wee bit short on those fronts. But when all three are back then Celtic will be firing on all cylinders.”

Stark reckons the absence of captain McGregor has been the biggest loss. He added: “Callum is a huge miss for Celtic, especially with the way Brendan wants to play.

“He is a controller in the midfield. He sets the tempo for that team and is a big player on and off the park. Celtic are missing him as a captain and because he is crucial to the way Celtic want to play. He’s the model professional. His behaviour is exemplary on and off