Caddis expects to welcome McGeady back into the fold

AIDEN McGEADY has settled his differences with Gordon Strachan and is poised to return to action for Celtic, according to the winger's team-mate Paul Caddis.

While McGeady has decided not to appeal against the two-week suspension and fine imposed on him last month by Strachan following a dressing-room row between the pair, it is not yet clear whether he will be welcomed back into the manager's first-team plans.

Caddis, however, has revealed that relations between McGeady and Strachan on the training ground have been untroubled since the Republic of Ireland international returned following his ban.

"I believe they (Strachan and McGeady] have patched things up and it looks as if everything is fine," said Caddis. "There have been no clashes in training or anything like that, so I don't see why he can't start with a clean slate.

"Aiden is a good enough player to come back and make an impact. It's up to the manager whether he is going to play him or whatever, but the boys are happy to have him back. He is a very special talent. But it is a team game because other players have stepped in and done well.

"To be honest, it was nothing to do with us. What happened, happened. It didn't affect the rest of the team and we got two wins during that time, including a win over Rangers at Ibrox."

Saturday's Homecoming Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Dundee at Celtic Park could provide the stage for McGeady's comeback, but Caddis is more concerned with seizing his own opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place in Strachan's team.

He replaced the injured Mark Wilson at half-time in last Saturday's SPL fixture against Dundee United, and with Andreas Hinkel also currently on the sidelines, the Scotland under-21 international is keen to make the most of the situation. "I'm sorry for Mark, but I'm ready to step in and it's now up to the manager whether I play," said Caddis. "Football has a lot to do with luck and this is maybe the break I need.

"If I do well, I might stay there. I've got another 18 months on my contract at Celtic and I'm happy right now. I know there are players who have done well by going out on loan elsewhere, but at the moment, that hasn't crossed my mind. With Mark being out, this is my chance to make a claim."

Shunsuke Nakamura looks set to be rested for the meeting with Dundee after suffering a groin injury.

The Japanese midfielder sustained the problem in last weekend's 2-2 draw against Dundee United and has been removed from first-team training this week.

Nakamura, 30, is hoping to rejoin his team-mates today and is targeting the following weekend's SPL trip to Aberdeen.

He said: "The pain I felt at the weekend when I had to come off during the game against Dundee United is much better, and I'll perhaps be able to train again with the team tomorrow.

"I am preparing for the game against Aberdeen, but I've been told the injury is in an unusual place and that there is the possibility it may come back if not treated properly."

Strachan has hinted he may make changes for this weekend's visit of Irn-Bru First Division Dundee, and that could mean a return for McGeady.

Strachan also wants to use Saturday's game to ease striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and midfielder Marc Crosas back into first-team combat following their injury lay-offs.

He told Celtic View: "It would be nice for Jan and Marc to get some games.

"On Monday, we had a 70-minute bounce game for the players who didn't start on Saturday.

"That was just to try to get them back to match fitness as soon as possible. Marc and Jan have been two big performers for us and it will be good to get them back playing."

Right-back Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe hopes some of Celtic's fringe men are also given the nod this weekend.

He said in the Evening Times: "I have six months left on my contract and my aim is to fight my way into the first team and play as much as possible.

"I feel a lot fitter and I've played a few games for the reserves."

He recently claimed to have no friends in football, but Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc cannot wait to be reunited with former room-mate Lukasz Zaluska.

Dundee United goalkeeper Zaluska signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic last month and is set to compete with Boruc for the number one jersey next season.

The pair have been team-mates before, at Legia Warsaw in their native Poland, and Boruc is particularly looking forward to being able to speak his own language after a three-and-a-half-year diet of English. "It will be good to see Lukasz at Celtic and it will be good to spend some time with him again," Boruc told Celtic View.

"He's a good guy and a good goalkeeper. I'm sure the Celtic supporters will take the chance to watch him between now and the end of the season.

"I played with Lukasz for two years at Legia Warsaw. We were actually room-mates together and it was a good time. It's always good to have another Legia man at Celtic and it will be good to be able to speak Polish from time to time.

"I talk Scottish that much these days that I'm finding myself forgetting how to speak my own language."

Despite being involved in a number of high-profile controversies on and off the field, Boruc has been a key component of Celtic's success in recent seasons, helping them claim a hat-trick of Scottish Premier League titles.

But he will only be satisfied once he has won enough silverware to be regarded as an all-time great at Parkhead.

He said: "I don't want the success to stop – I want to add more this season and add to my record at Celtic. I try to do my best all the time for Celtic and if I can be remembered in the future as one of the most successful goalkeepers in the history of the club then that would be great."

Another burning ambition for Boruc is to make his mark at the other end of the park. "I remember scoring a penalty for Legia, but it would be better if I could score in the last minute – that would be amazing."