Celtic predicted line up gallery vs Rangers - 2 changes as Jota and Hatate pictured at training in major boost

Celtic have been handed a major injury boost ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash against Rangers, with key players Reo Hatate and Jota pictured in training and winning their fitness race on Friday.

Japanese midfielder Hatate hasn’t featured for the Hoops since the 3-1 league victory over Hibernian in March after picking up a hamstring injury, while Portuguese winger Jota has been absent for the last couple of games.

The pair have reported to training at Lennoxtown earlier this week and images shared on Celtic’s social media channels this afternoon would indicate that both players will be declared fit for Sunday’s blockbuster showdown.

That would ensure Celtic are almost back to full strength with updates on the return timescales of wingers Liel Abada and James Forrest also provided by Ange Postecoglou in his pre-match media conference.

He stated: “From last week everyone got through unscathed. Liel Abada, Jota and Reo Hatate have trained all week so they are available. James Forrest is probably another week or so away.”

Celtic are aiming to reach the final having suffered an extra-time loss to the Ibrox side at the last-four stage of the competition 12 months ago, and they would go into the final as overwhelming favourites to seal a Treble if they can overcome their fierce rivals at Hampden Park.

The Australian, who watched his side slip up in their title charge after being held to a 1-1 draw by Motherwell last weekend, is likely to thrust Hatate and Jota straight into the starting 11 should they both come through today’s session unscathed. If that is the case, Tomoki Iwata and Sead Haksabanovic could be the players to drop out.

Here, we predict how Celtic will line-up against the Light Blues at Hampden...