UNBELIEVABLE NEWS;Celtics star signs a permanent new deal contract with dream club Rangers few minutes ago

Sunday’s Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers will throw up a few intriguing head-to-head battles on the Parkhead pitch.

Daizen Maeda has given James Tavernier the runaround in recent clashes between the two Glasgow giants. The green-and-white hooped Roadrunner to Rangers’ blundering Wile E Coyote.

Tavernier has been ‘immense’ under Barry Ferguson in a new-look central defensive role, however. With less space to run into either side of the ageing skipper, can he do what he has failed to do so many times and keep the formidable Maeda at arms’ length?

Further forward, can Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande and Nico Raskin seize control against a Celtic side who are sweating on the fitness of Callum McGregor?

Kris Boyd fears for Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz up against Nicolas Kuhn and Jota, and the Rangers duo will certainly need to keep their wits about them when bombing forward.

And, presuming he gets some Old Firm minutes under his belt, can Hamza Igamane end a goal drought which now extends beyond two months?

Celtic hero Neil Lennon praises Hamza Igamane’s impact at Rangers

The Moroccan scored 12 goals in a thrilling 15 game spell either side of Christmas. The most recent, however, came against Aberdeen in mid-January.

Yet, Igamane still has an admirer in the shape of Celtic legend Neil Lennon. When asked to name a player from each side who have caught his eye the most across the 2024/25, a player who arrived at Ibrox as an unknown £1.7 million quantity was the first name which came to mind.

Well, Maeda’s having an unbelievable season. He’s been so good,” Lennon says. “On the Rangers side, Igamane has really impressed me.”

Celtic icon Lennon praised Nico Raskin too during December’s thrilling League Cup final at Hampden Park. Buoyed by a first-ever call up to the senior Belgium squad this week.