I´ll play anywhere to ease Celtic injury crisis: Robson

Celtic midfielder Barry Robson has told manager Gordon Strachan that he is prepared to play anywhere in an effort to solve the club’s injury crisis ahead of the visit of Hibernian.

Celtic face their Edinburgh rivals on Saturday looking for a win to extend their three-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

However, the Glasgow club has been rocked by a number of injuries to key players, such as top-scorer Georgios Samaras, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Andreas Hinkel.

Enter the versatile midfielder Robson.

The former Dundee United star, who has featured in every position across the midfield since he joined Celtic in January, says he will play anywhere for the club.

“I will give my all and play wherever I have to play for the football club, and I think that anyone would,” said Robson.

“If I am called upon I will give everything I’ve got and I am sure that every other player in that dressing room is the same.”

The 29-year-old proved his worth when he filled in at left-back for the recent 4-0 win against Hamilton, and Robson doesn’t mind as long as the team kept winning.

“I can play in the centre of midfield and that’s where I want to play and I think I can do a good job there,” Robson said.

“But if the manager wants me to play in a position that we are struggling in, where we might have a few injuries, I am more than happy to put myself on the line to do that.

“The most important thing is that we win on a Saturday and if we have to rotate or if I have to play in a certain position then so be it.

“As long as we are winning and the club’s going forward, that’s all that matters to me.”

Hibernian expect striker Derek Riordan to be available to face his former club after shaking off a knock picked up in last weekend’s Edinburgh derby.

In Saturday’s other fixtures Rangers travel to New Douglas Park to take on Hamilton for the first time this season.

Kenny Miller and Kevin Thomson are expected to be fit for the match, which is the first part of a double-header, as the sides are scheduled to also meet in the League Cup on Tuesday at Ibrox.

Dundee United fans are expected to pack Tannadice for their match against St Mirren to pay tribute to chairman Eddie Thompson, who lost his battle against cancer last week.

St Mirren have a chance to leapfrog their rivals in the league if they can get all three points.

Aberdeen travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts hoping to build on last weekend’s win against Falkirk.

The Jambos have been boosted by the news that midfielder Deividas Cesnauskis could return from injury against the Dons.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle clash with Motherwell at the Tulloch Homes Stadium with both clubs hoping to bounce back from defeats last weekend.

Kilmarnock will be looking to hold on to third place in the league as they host basement club Falkirk at Rugby Park.

Fixtures

Saturday

Celtic v Hibernian, Dundee United v St Mirren, Hamilton v Rangers, Hearts v Aberdeen, Inverness CT v Motherwell, Kilmarnock v Falkirk