Source: Team_Talk
McInnes: Hoops will still be strong
Tony Mowbray will be without Ki Sung-Yueng, Scott McDonald, Stephen McManus, Mark Wilson, Daniel Fox, Paul Caddis and Lee Naylor through injury while Landry N'Guemo is away on international duty.[LNB]Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown are fit again after recovering from tendinitis and an ankle operation respectively but will not join in with full training until Monday.[LNB]However, McInnes, whose side lost 5-2 at Parkhead earlier in the season, believes whoever wears the hoops will be more than capable.[LNB]"I don't take any comfort from the fact that Celtic will be without a few players," he said. "Not at all.[LNB]"I understand there will be a few changes but whoever comes in to play for Celtic will be quality.[LNB]"The size of club they are means they will have a strong team.[LNB]"In fact, Celtic are the most impressive side we have played this season.[LNB]"We lost 5-2 at Parkhead and that day they had a lot of match-winners on show.[LNB]"They had Brown, Maloney and McGeady in the midfield and Fortune and McDonald up front.[LNB]"They had the ability to pass and move the ball, they were athletic and had lots of energy.[LNB]"But although we lost against them, we took a lot of positives ourselves and in some ways we were the architects of our own downfall.[LNB]"We have to defend better to give ourselves a platform and and if we do that, who knows?"[LNB]McInnes paid tribute to Saints goalkeeper and club record appearance holder Alan Main who has been granted a testimonial.[LNB]The keeper, who has clocked up 361 starts for the club in two spells at Perth, is being honoured by Saints fans, with plans coming together for a variety of events[LNB]McInnes said: "I have nothing but admiration for Alan. He is a huge credit to himself and I am delighted for him.[LNB]"I played with him and as a manager, I saw how hard he worked last season to get another chance to play in the SPL.[LNB]"He's a popular guy, I'm sure St Johnstone fans will turn out to honour him."[LNB][LNB] St. Johnstone v Celtic. Click here to bet.
