THRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Brendan relishes rare Boxing Day clash at Celtic Park

- FRASER WI WILSON

BRENDAN RODGERS hopes spending Christmas at home can help Celtic give their fans plenty of comfort and joy.

Incredibly today will be the first time the Hoops have had a Boxing Day fixture at Parkhead since 2010.

Eight times since then they've been on their travels before most of us have polished off the last of the turkey.

But after sending his players back to their families after a light training session yesterday morning, Rodgers is hopeful the extra time spent with their loved ones can help unwrap three crucial Premiership points against Motherwell.

A victory is imperative after two points were dropped in Sunday's goalless draw at Dundee United.

And the Hoops boss knows there's no room for more slip-ups with Rangers closing the gap at the top to nine points and the next Old Firm at Ibrox just a week away.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Alistair Johnston are expected to return after missing the trip to Tannadice but Nicolas Kuhn remains a doubt. And Rodgers said: "It has been a long time since Celtic played at home on Boxing Day and that's great for the support and the players.

"It's also good for the families as we tend to be travelling away to a hotel on Christmas Day and that wasn't the case this year.

"We still trained in the morning but the players were able to go home after that.

"I am really looking forward to being at home on Boxing Day.

"It's a great place for us to play and we want to send the supporters home happy.