MOREADYTO CATCH BREAK
CELTIC star Mohamed Elyounoussi was in severe discomfort the last time he faced Rangers.
This time around he’s the one who wants to be dishing out the hurt.
Elyounoussi is fit and ready to get his teeth into the derby showdown after being denied a proper crack at Steven Gerrard’s team last term.
He missed the two league games and only lasted 45 minutes of the Betfred Cup Final win as he returned from injury.
The 26- year - o l d recalled: “Yeah, it’s true. The League Cup Final, I played with a broken toe so I wasn’t really myself.
“It was frustrating watching when I couldn’t play. You always want to be part of the team.
“Watching from the stand while injured is always frustrating.
“I would have loved to have played all those other times so that’s another reason to look forward to this.
“Hopefully I put in a good performance. We’ve trained well, everyone looks sharp and prepared, ready mentally.”
The Norway winger could be handed a key role with Celts’ Covid-19 problems and vowed to take his chance.
Elyounoussi knows Gers have started the season with a good defensive record but is undaunted and said: “Absolutely, I see gaps.
“Any time you analyse, you can see strengths and weaknesses. From what I’ve seen, there are gaps, there is space to open up and to hurt them. We look at them but it’s about what we produce.
“We look at where we can hurt them.”
Elyounoussi has backed Celts to bounce back from a tough week.
He added: “Of course we would love to have everyone available but we have a strong squad.
“If someone is injured, we have the depth, someone can fill in and give 100 per cent.
“I’m sure that whoever plays, they will perform well. We are a team. We fight for each other, for the club and the fans.
“It’s a team sport and you win or lose as a team.
“We do need a strong squad. It’s going to be a long season, with two or three games every week until November or beyond. The positive is they all look fit and strong. I’m not concerned.
“I’m sure everyone is going to step up, we’re ready for the challenge and we’ll do everything to help the team.
“I don’t worry about whether there is pressure on them [Rangers] or not.
“Who is the favourite? Who has pressure? I don’t think about those things. I think about what we can do, what we can produce.”
Celtic won’t have the backing of their fans at an empty Parkhead for the lunchtime clash.
Elyounoussi added: “We know they’re behind us and they should know that we’re going to do everything in our power.”