McGlynn wary of wounded Celtic

McGlynn wary of wounded Celtic

Published Nov. 27, 2012 1:15 p.m. ET

Team news for Wednesday night's Lancashire derby between Blackburn and Bolton at Ewood Park.

Blackburn's long-term absentees Fabio Nunes, David Dunn and Leon Best all remain sidelined but boss Henning Berg is optimistic that two of the three will be back in the near future.

"I don't think we have any more new injuries," he told the club's official website. "Fabio Nunes is getting closer, that is good because he is a good option for us.

"David Dunn would like to be fit for the Burnley game so he is also very close."

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Berg is keen for his Rovers side to exorcise the memory of Saturday's loss to Millwall with victory over the Trotters.

Bolton midfielder Mark Davies will miss the Lancashire derby through suspension.

Davies picked up his fifth booking of the season at Brighton on Sunday and his absence leaves manager Dougie Freedman with a decision to make in the centre of his midfield.

Liverpool loanee Jay Spearing could be promoted to a starting berth after having to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench at the Amex Stadium.

Chung-Yong Lee and Jacob Butterfield, on loan from Norwich, are also in contention to deputise for Davies.

Knee injury victims Stuart Holden, Andy Lonergan, David Wheater and Josh Vela all remain in the treatment room as Freedman goes in search of what would be just his second victory as Trotters' boss in eight matches.

Despite their Champions League win over Barcelona, Celtic are reeling after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Inverness, with manager Neil Lennon critical of his side's domestic form and threatening to quit after an altercation with supporters.

The demotion of Rangers to the Third Division led many to believe the SPL would be a formality for Celtic, but the procession has not materialised and Hearts will be looking to inflict the visitors' fourth loss of the season.

McGlynn does not believe Lennon is under additional strain at Parkhead and is ready for a similar reaction to when Celtic were narrowly beaten in Barcelona and lost to Kilmarnock the following weekend, before bouncing back with an emphatic 5-0 midweek win over St Johnstone.

"I don't think he's under any pressure," McGlynn said.

"Celtic are doing the best they've probably done in the Champions League ever; they've picked up more points than anyone would've expected.

"If they've maybe taken their eye off the ball a wee bit in defeats like Saturday, they end up coming out on the Wednesday night and in one of those situations taking five goals off St Johnstone.

"Sometimes it just takes a wee kick up the backside to bring you back down to earth.

"There's been a reaction to their defeat which will certainly have them fired up.

"When they come to Tynecastle they know they have to be at the top of their game. (The Inverness loss) will reinforce that.

"That's something we have to be very aware of and be prepared for."

Should ninth-placed Hearts manage to again frustrate Lennon's Celtic and earn a fourth home win of the season, McGlynn's men would climb to within four points.

"We'd have probably taken that at the start of the season, four points behind Celtic entering December," McGlynn added.

"We have to win to do that. It could go 10 points, I'm not daft, but we've got an opportunity to close that gap.

"Everyone would be delighted if we were to do that, because it may well be there's a new leader at the top of the table going into December.

"It's good for the SPL. It's good there's competition in the SPL."

Hearts, mired in a myriad of financial difficulties, hope for the backing of a full crowd at Tynecastle.

But they will have to do without Danny Grainger for around three months after the left-back suffered a knee injury which could yet require surgery.

Grainger suffered a partial tear of his anterior crucial ligament in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Motherwell and is awaiting news from a consultant before the full prognosis is known.

"We're hoping he's not going to need surgery," McGlynn added.

"I'm gutted for Danny that he's going to miss a good part of the season.

"He's one of our top goalscorers this season with three goals from left-back, which is an excellent return."

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