No good time to face Celtic, says McCann

Dundee boss Neil McCann insists that Celtic have such strength in depth, there is no such thing as a good time to play them, writes Neil Robertson.

The Dark Blues travel to Parkhead tomorrow to face a Hoops side that will be missing key midfield duo Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong who are recovering from injury.

Celtic also had a whole host of players away on international duty last week and have a Champions League match with German giants Bayern Munich looming large.

However, McCann knows that even taking all those factors into account, his side will still face the sternest of tests against Brendan Rodgers’ outfit.

McCann said: “I don’t think the timing of the game makes any difference when you are playing a team like Celtic.

“They are a quality side and they have proved over the years that they are the best in the country by a stretch and it doesn’t matter who is away or who is fit or who is not.

“They are just a right good side and that is the strength in depth that Brendan enjoys.

“So it is up to us to come up with something that is good enough to get a result.”

Before the international break, Dundee had built up a fair bit of momentum with two wins and a draw in the league from their last three matches.

However, McCann insisted he wasn’t disappointed to have to wait two weeks for this game after the victory over Hearts.

He said: “No, I didn’t have that mindset.

“I know you have a good feeling after winning the game but I just thought the lads had worked really hard in that period and they deserved a wellearned rest.

“So I wasn’t too fussed about going into a break.”

That squad is in rude good health at the moment with only long-term absentees James McPake and Craig Wighton along with on-loan Celtic midfielder Scott Allan, who has had a groin op, currently sidelined.

McCann said: “The lads are in great form at the minute. I think it is very important in any competition that your home form has to be solid if you want to have a good season.

“We have had two very good home wins against strong sides and in two different ways which is pleasing. It shows we have that adaptability to change our shape.

“I am absolutely delighted with the squad we’ve got, I really am.

“When I watched training today we had a massive group of players with two 10s playing a practice match. It allowed me to train with any shape or formula that we wanted.

“That’s what we are all striving for.”

Neil McCann says injury problems don’t affect a team like Celtic.