“Everyone fit and ready and available for a tough game,” Brendan Rodgers

The Celtic Star

·18 January 2025

“Everyone fit and ready and available for a tough game,” Brendan Rodgers

Celtic play Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup today and it’s the first time in fifteen years that the two clubs have met in this famous old competition…

Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring the third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic C and St. Johnstone at Celtic Park on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Nick Walsh has been appointed as the referee for today fourth round Scottish Cup tie between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Paradise. The 34 year-old experienced whistler has only taken charge of two Celtic games this season which included the last time Brendan Rodgers and Derek McInnes faced off against each other back in early November.

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Nicolas Kuhn scores Celtic’s second goal against Kilmarnock. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Celtic’s Great Dane spoke to The Celtic Star yesterday

The Hoops were 2-0 winners at Rugby Park courtesy of skipper Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn, but the hosts were more than a match for the Scottish champions who were helped on the day by an excellent goalkeeping display from Kasper Schmeichel.

The Great Dane spoke to The Celtic Star yesterday afternoon ahead of Rodgers’ men kickstarting their defence of the Scottish Cup trophy tomorrow night.

Kasper Schmeichel was Man of the Match. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“I am very excited, yes. It’s a great opportunity, another competition that we’re looking to go far in. Yes, excited to get going,” the Celtic goalkeeper said. “I think our way of thinking all season has been next game. Next game is a cup game, so we put everything that we have into that, and that goes for the same in any competition that we’re playing in.

“So, yes, I think when you play at a club like this, then you’re going to try and win everything that you can win, so this is a competition that we need to do well in,” Kasper said.

Celtic v Kilmarnock – Premiership – Celtic Park Brendan Rodgers r Derek McInnes before the Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday October 7, 2023. Photo Jane Barlow

Brendan Rodgers regards Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes very highly indeed and is in no doubt that the Ayrshire side will prove to be a formidable opponent in today’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie at Celtic Park.

“It’s a tough opponent that we’re playing, so we’re very mindful of that,” the Celtic manager said, providing as usual a studied and academic service as the elite manager we’re so lucky to have at the club.

“And obviously, Derek and his team, they’ve had a good rest over this period as well. It’s the start of a competition that this club is synonymous with, and we’re very excited by that. We’ve got an extra little bit of recovery, having played on Tuesday night. So, yes, everyone fit and ready and available for a tough game.”

Derek McInnes manager of Kilmarnock arrives at Celtic Park ahead the Premiership match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Walsh was also the man in the middle for Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Aberdeen in October where the Dons came from two down to salvage a rare point in Glasgow’s East End.

Joining the on-field referee are AR1 Graeme Stewart and AR2 Calum Spence. Manning VAR duties at Clydesdale House is Steven McLean with Gary Hilland taking the role as Assistant VAR.

A reminder that kick-off this afternoon is at 5:30pm (Celtic Park Time) and will be shown live on Premier Sports. For Celtic supporters based outside Britain and Ireland, Celtic TV will be providing live coverage of the game as usual.

On the Road to Hampden

Hampden Park ahead of Celtic 2024 Scottish Cup final win over theRangers. Photo The Celtic Star

The winners of today’s tie will be in the hat for the fifth round draw which will take place on late on Monday evening live on Premier Sports after the Dundee Derby match which could well be the tie of the round.

Here’s a reminder on how Celtic won the Scottish Cup Final in May 2024…

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Conor Spence