Tomas Cvancara is poised for his Celtic debut this Sunday against Hearts after arriving on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 25-year-old Czech striker is tasked with solving Celtic's centre-forward issues as Johnny Kenny nurses a calf strain. Manager Martin O'Neill confirmed Cvancara trained Friday and is "ready to go" but cautioned against expecting an instant fix.

The timing is critical. Celtic trail league leaders Hearts by six points and have lost both meetings this season, including Brendan Rodgers' final game in October. O'Neill's interim spell has been flawless domestically, but a defeat in Edinburgh would leave a nine-point gap with only 15 games remaining. The pressure is mounting on the defending champions.

Hearts, under Derek McInnes, have been Scotland's standout team, driving their own success rather than just capitalizing on rivals' slip-ups. O'Neill expects a "fiery" reception at Tynecastle. With Kelechi Iheanacho also returning to training, Celtic's attacking options are improving, but this match feels like a pivotal moment in the title race.