CELTIC CONFIDENTIAL: Old Bhoys’ reunion that will make fascinating viewing … and why VAR added insult to injury for Kasper Schmeichel

Don’t be surprised if there are a few more supporters than usual, perhaps even one or two of a Celtic persuasion, at Somerset Park on Saturday for the Championship match between Ayr United and Dunfermline Athletic.

Certainly, a big media presence is sure to be in attendance for the touchline reunion of two Celtic giants, Neil Lennon and Scott Brown, whose managerial careers are about to intersect in the most unlikely manner.

Who could have anticipated just a few short months ago that Lennon, then manager of Rapid Bucharest, would enter the closing weeks of the season in charge of Dunfermline?

Or that the first game in his effort to rescue the Fife club from relegation to League One would be against Brown, his totemic captain during two trophy-laden spells in charge of Celtic?

And yet, here he is, taking over from the sacked Michael Tidser, whose tenure at East End Park was almost as short as Lennon’s in the Romanian capital.

Brown has often spoken of his gratitude to Lennon. The latter has been quick to repay the compliment. 

The pair won trophy after trophy with Brown as skipper and Lennon as manager at Celtic Park

Lennon and Brown in typically triumphant mode after a Celtic win at Ibrox back in 2019

They have a lot to thank each other for, so much in fact that neither might have achieved quite what they did had it not been for the other.

Still, business is business and the two men haven’t got where they are now by letting mutual respect and affection put out the competitive fire for which they are both renowned.

Ayr’s promotion bid has faltered with a run of three winless matches. Second-bottom Dunfermline desperately need a lift if they are to avoid a relegation playoff or worse.

With each manager requiring points at the expense of the other, it should be a fascinating watch.

Tony Ralston deserves credit, not criticism, for making the most of himself 

In one of those curious anomalies that international football increasingly throws up, Anthony Ralston has made more starts for Scotland than he has for Celtic this season.

At club level, the right-back has served largely as a deputy for Canada international Alastair Johnston, with 11 of his 18 appearances coming off the bench.

For his country, he has started eight games, thanks mainly to the continued injury absence of Brentford’s Aaron Hickey and Everton’s Nathan Patterson.

All things considered, Ralston performed admirably in the first leg of Scotland’s Nations League playoff against Greece, doggedly defending the back post during a 1-0 victory in Piraeus.

The ever-reliable Ralston hasn’t played as much for Celtic as he has for Scotland this season

Right back Ralston in action for Scotland during the Nations League play-off with Greece 

The 26-year-old didn’t fare so well in the return leg at Hampden on Sunday, when Scotland were beaten 3-0 and he was among the defenders castigated for their performance.

With both Celtic and Scotland, Ralston is a fringe player called upon only when others are unavailable, which makes him a convenient scapegoat when things go wrong.

The criticism is harsh. If his crime is to be a little short of the first-team standard required by Celtic and Scotland, most other professional footballers could be found guilty of the same offence.

It’s not Ralston’s fault that Steve Clarke and Brendan Rodgers keep picking him. In fact, it’s to his great credit that the two managers continue to see the value in having him around.

By hanging in there well enough to win 13 trophies with Celtic and 19 caps for Scotland, Ralston is getting the absolute most from himself. Which is more than can be said for a few others.

Why VAR added insult to injury for Kasper Schmeichel in Lisbon 

Kasper Schmeichel’s shoulder injury, picked up while playing for Denmark in Lisbon this week, has shone a light on one of the many problems with VAR.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that the Celtic goalkeeper returned to Scotland with his arm in a sling, the truth is that it needn’t have happened.

Among the numerous ludicrous consequences of VAR and its accompanying rules is the need to delay offside decisions until a passage of play is complete.

Kasper Schmeichel is clearly in some distress after being injured in the match with Portugal

Victor Kristiansen checks on his fellow Dane Schmeichel’s welfare during play-off game

Schmeichel had to play on despite shoulder injury as the Danish team had used all their subs

Fearful that they will be proved wrong by video replays, assistant referees keep their flag down and referees wave play on in case the move produces a goal.

This is all very well when it is a tight call, but when the offside decision is blatantly obvious, there is uncertainty in the stadium and, worse still, an unnecessary injury risk.

Sure enough, Schmeichel was a victim of it in Lisbon on Sunday, when Denmark suffered a 5-3 aggregate defeat by Portugal in their Nations League playoff.

Already injured and visibly struggling, the veteran goalkeeper would have been taken off earlier but Denmark had used all their substitutes as the second leg moved into extra time.

Schmeichel chose to soldier on and, when a clear offside decision was delayed, had little option but to dive in response to a shot from Liverpool’s Dioga Jota.

Having let out a scream when he tipped over an earlier effort, the 38-year-old may well have done more damage by trying to deny Jota, this time when it wasn’t even needed.

All of which is bad news for Schmeichel and bad news for Celtic who have been waiting anxiously for the outcome of scans that will determine how long the goalkeeper is likely to be out.

It is bad news also for football, its officials and the governing bodies who refuse to acknowledge that VAR, however beneficial, comes at a cost. Are the system’s many shortcomings really a price worth paying?

Viljami Sinisalo will surely relish the chance to get better of Hearts this time 

The sole beneficiary of Schmeichel’s misfortune is likely to be Viljami Sinisalo, who is now set to make just his second competitive appearance for Celtic when they host Hearts on Saturday.

The Finnish goalkeeper has had to be patient since his summer arrival from Aston Villa, with last month’s 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers his sole outing for the Hoops to date.

However, despite his limited involvement at Parkhead, the weekend will actually mark his fourth appearance against the Tynecastle side, should he get the nod to start by Brendan Rodgers.

Viljami Sinisalo, left, is set to take over from Schmeichel if the Dane is sidelined with injury

Goalkeeper Sinisalo could be thrown in against Hearts in Saturday’s league clash at Parkhead

That’s because Sinisalo previously enjoyed a loan spell at Ayr United while Robbie Neilson’s Hearts side were trying to break back out of the second tier following their Covid-enforced relegation in 2020.

Then aged 18, the Finn was a fixture in goal during a largely forgettable Championship season for the Honest Men, who avoided a relegation play-off on goal difference. In his three games against Hearts, he suffered 5-3 and 2-0 defeats at Tynecastle and a 1-0 reverse at Somerset Park.

He never made the breakthrough at Villa Park on his return to the Midlands, but has enjoyed loan spells at Burton Albion and Exeter in recent seasons, as well as winning three full caps for Finland.

It’s safe to say he’ll relish the chance to finally get the better of Hearts as he looks to kickstart his Celtic career in the likely absence of Danish star Schmeichel.

Hatate determined to show Japan that Celtic are no barrier to World Cup success

It was interesting to hear Reo Hatate claim this week that his Champions League experience with Celtic can help him be a star at next year’s World Cup with Japan.

Wasn’t playing for Celtic in the Premiership rather than one of Europe’s top leagues one of the reasons why national team boss Hajime Moriyasu snubbed Hatate’s former Parkhead team-mate Kyogo Furuhashi for so long?

Apparently what matters for a striker doesn’t apply to midfielders, unless we haven’t been told the full story of the relationship between Moriyasu and Furuhashi, who is now with Rennes after his £10million move from Celtic.

Japan became the first team to qualify for the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico after a win against Bahrain last week.

Reo Hatate celebrates after scoring for Celtic against RB Leipzig in the Champions League

Celtic winger Daizen Maeda in action for Japan against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday

Kyogo Furuhashi had to go to Rennes in France to prove he’s worthy of a place in Japan team

Hatate and Daizen Maeda were both unused subs, but Hatate remains convinced that playing on the highest stage with Celtic could help him gain a permanent place in his country’s World Cup team.

He said: ‘When you score a goal in the Champions League as I have, it gives you enormous confidence as a player.

‘I think we did very well in the Champions League this season.

‘If I manage to get into the team for the World Cup, I will certainly use the confidence I took from playing in the Champions League.

‘I was disappointed not to play against Bahrain, but I was delighted we have achieved our minimum goal of qualifying for the World Cup finals.

‘My personal ambition now is to play in the World Cup next year.

‘I want to show my ability and I want to show the manager I deserve to be in the squad.’

Maeda started Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia, eventually being replaced by Furuhashi, before Hatate also appeared from the bench after 75 minutes.