Celtic have been handed an injury boost ahead of their clash with league leaders Hearts this Sunday. It’s a game that’s pivotal in the Premiership title race, and the Hoops will welcome the news ahead of the fixture at Tynecastle.

Hearts will be without their captain, Lawrence Shankland, for the weekend. The Scotland international will be sidelined ‘for six to eight weeks due to a hamstring strain’, Sky Sports have confirmed.

It’s a boost for Celtic given that Shankland is the league’s top scorer with 11 goals. He joins the Jambos’ Cammy Devlin on the treatment table, with the midfielder also out for up to eight weeks with a lower leg injury.

Derek McInnes’ side will also be without midfielder Beni Baningime as he serves the first match of his two-game suspension following his red card offence against St Mirren last week.

The Hoops need to put in a performance to close the gap at the top to three points, otherwise they’ll find themselves further behind in the title race as the tension ramps up.

Martin O’Neill’s side are in Europa League action before Tynecastle as they face Bologna this Thursday in a match that carries its own importance. They sit 24th in the league phase standings and are still in with a chance of qualification to the playoff round; a draw in Italy would tee up a must-win clash with Utrecht in the final league phase fixture on January 29.