Match preview: Celtic vs. Motherwell

In the vacuum of space that accompanies your typical international week, where interesting footballing stories usually exist, a circus popped up across town at our greatest rivals. A night hasn't gone by where Twitter feeds, Facebook walls and various green & blue messageboards aren't awash with news of impending financial doom at Rangers FC. It's easy for a Celtic fan's head to go into a cloud of outstanding photoshops, quips and general hilarity. Thankfully lessons have been learned by the support this year, knowing that despite whatever goes on in Govan, winning leagues isn't easy. Still, there is often a complacency that we
will or should win every home SPL game with ease. Motherwell tomorrow will have very different ideas about that, having had their best start to a season for years and years. Celtic though should be focused and rejuvenated with a number of key players not taking part in their nation's matches recently, desperate to right the wrongs of St.Johnstone and Sion, the last action at Parkhead.

I'm often guilty of neglecting the state of every other SPL team and papering over this lack of knowledge with bluster and cliché. So in an effort to be as accurate as possible I've asked fellow blogger Graeme Thewliss (Graeme is found at http://theeaststand.wordpress.com & @thisGraeme) to give an insight into how a Motherwell fan thinks their season is going so far and what kind of a team we can expect to face at Parkhead tomorrow.

"Six games, thirteen points and a stint at the top of the league has given Motherwell as exciting a start as I can remember. Not since Mark McGhee's first season in charge at Fir Park has there been such a buzz around the club. Stuart McCall's insistence on bringing quality over quantity to Fir Park over the summer has brought Michael Higdon and Nicky Law into the fold. While it leaves the squad paper-thin, watching Law drift inside, outside, his ability to make space all over the park and his desire to take on players has been a joy to watch and is paying dividends. The lightening of Jamie Murphy's load as the creative outlet of the team in particular has had a marked effect on his confidence and performances.

McCall's risk looked to have backfired as impressive young defender Steven Saunders was ruled out for the rest of the season with an achillies injury, but former Kilmarnock man Tim Clancy arrived in time to make his debut against Dunfermline in a 4-2 victory two weeks ago. Despite this rip-roaring start to the season Motherwell have made, McCall's inexperience and naievety was once again shown against Rangers at Fir Park. Fullbacks roaming the length of the touchline is exciting and effective against teams without the quality to counteract it, but Rangers picked Motherwell's defensive frailties apart, a trait shown far too often last year against both sides of the Old Firm. A plan-B is required in order to attempt to match the Old Firm, hopefully starting tomorrow."

Obviously unlike Graeme, Celtic fans will not be hoping for any kind of progress from Motherwell tomorrow but it's likely to be a fast paced, exciting game with both teams looking to link play with one or two touch passing. Players in both sides are blessed with pace and a spark in the final third and Celtic will need a strong start to ease those post-25 minute blues you often see in the stands at Celtic Park at 0-0. This Motherwell team definitely has the ability to sting us as the match progresses.

It's a great relief that the majority of the Celtic team comes back unscathed from international duty, with only a minor Cha Du-Ri injury to report. The squad is also boosted by two possible debutants in Mohamed Bangura and Badr El Kaddouri who both trained today and who Neil Lennon confirms will be in contention tomorrow. While the likes of Beram Kayal and Joe Ledley played midweek, other key players such as Kris Commons, Gary Hooper and Scott Brown didn't. The latter was suspended after Scotland's draw with Czech Republic. Hooper and Commons took the oppurtunity to have a long golfing weekend in Marbella, updating us often through the medium of Twitter. Craig Levein dropped Commons from his Scotland squad due to lack of form and it'll be interesting to see if Kris takes this as motivation to improve on his poor start to the season. In fact, he commented on Twitter that he was desperate to play after the holiday so perhaps we'll see an appetite for football from him tomorrow that's been lacking of late. Beram Kayal had a tough time away, falling out with media in Israel who used him as a scapegoat in their defeat against Greece which effectively ended their chances of qualifying for Euro 2012, he will find solace in the adoring fans that have looked to him as a leader of excellence. While Bangura might not start tomorrow, his very presence might be a kick up the proverbial backside of both Anthony Stokes and Hooper who will be looking to impress the manager going into a crucial series of big games. Most of all the fans will be seeking the passion and urgency of last season to match a renewed vigour for the season ahead in light of Sion being kicked out of the Europa League.

It's very important for Celtic to build momentum and optimism going into our toughest tests of the season so far next Thursday in Madrid and next Sunday at Ibrox. The international break was something of a blessing as a bad feeling seemed to be spreading throughout both the team and the supporters. Since the last game we are back in Europe, have signed two useful looking players and have a squad close to full fitness. It will all be undone if points are dropped tomorrow and while the European and derby games are looming, full focus from the players and management must be on producing a confident and ruthless performance tomorrow because an inform team are ready to burst our flight-booking, tax-laughing bubble.