Brendan Rodgers suggests Celtic duo Filip Benkovic and Youssouf Mulumbu won’t feature in derby

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Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox club Glasgow Rangers will face Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested to The Herald that Filip Benkovic and Youssouf Mulumbu are unlikely to play against Steven Gerrard’s Rangers in the Old Firm derby.

The Hoops will take on Ibrox club Rangers at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.

Celtic signed 21-year-old central defender Benkovic on loan from Premier League club Leicester City on transfer deadline day.

The Glasgow giants also completed the signing of 31-year-old midfielder Mulumbu on a free transfer on Friday.

Manager Rodgers, though, has suggested that neither Benkovic nor Mulumbu will play against Rangers on Sunday.

Rodgers told The Herald: “I’ll have a wee look at it. Filip has been playing and training, but he’s literally just stepped out onto the training field with us.

“Youssouf has been training and looks great, but I have to be fair to the players and where they’re at, at this stage of their Celtic careers.

“Their main aim is for the whole season. They’re both players who will really help the squad.”

Celtic favourites

Rangers’ recent performances and results have been very encouraging, and Gerrard’s team will head into the match at Celtic Park high on confidence.

However, Celtic have the better team and are favourites to pick up all three points from the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park.

If the Hoops get an early goal, then it could be tough for Rangers to launch a comeback.