Celtic will head to Inverness on Sunday without their captain Scott Brown but that won’t make the job any easier for Caley Thistle, according to midfielder Liam Polworth.
The Hoops talisman missed last night’s Europa League encounter against Ajax and is facing three months on the sidelines because of a knee injury.
Polworth says Celtic’s strength in depth means his side has to expect an enormously taxing afternoon, whoever lines up for Ronny Deila’s side.
He said: “Every game against Celtic is really difficult because of the players they have got at their disposal.
“They have a big European game but I don’t think that will make any difference given the size of squad they have.
“Every time I have played against Celtic we have lost but it is always good to test yourself against them.
“I remember the big wins the club has enjoyed against Celtic in the past.
“The one that sticks out for me is the 3-2 win in 2011.
“I remember Shane Sutherland scored and Grant Munro’s goal after he had been told he was allowed to leave the club.
“Of course, everyone knows about the win at Parkhead in 2000. That was a while ago but it is a big game whenever Celtic come up to Inverness and one we look forward to.”
Caley Thistle’s injury problems have given Polworth an opportunity to show what he can do, although fellow central midfielder Ross Draper, who is understood to have been offered a three-year deal to stay at the club, is nearing a return to fitness after an ankle injury.
Polworth made only six appearances for his hometown team last season but has already racked up 15 appearances this term.
The 21-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season but the midfielder says his full attention is simply on helping Inverness move up the table.
He said: “I have not had any conversations with the manager about my future.
“I’m not really focusing on that just now. It is way too early. I just want to keep playing and stay in the team.
“Everyone knows how many injuries we have had since the start of the season.
“It has given me and a few of the other boys a chance to play and hopefully we have shown to the manager and everyone else that we can play at this level.
“On Saturday against Partick Thistle, we had a really strong bench which is not usually the case at a small club like this.
“Everyone coming back together is going to be important.”