Saturday's Team News

Last updated : 01 December 2006 By Stand Free Ed

RICHIE BYRNE is the Dons' only absentee from an otherwise full-strength squad named for the top-of-the-table clash with Celtic on Saturday.

However, this is exactly the same story we were fed prior to last week's game with Dunfermline at East End Park.

Then, it turned out that Jamie Smith, Steve Lovell and Zander Diamond were all missing through injury.

This week, it seems that Lovell has shaken off the ankle knock that saw him miss out against the Pars, while Jamie Smith has recovered from his groin strain.

Diamond, a fringe figure this season, is not named in the squad list, but worryingly captain Russell Anderson has had a recurrence of the migraine that saw him miss last season's 3-1 home defeat to Celtic.

On that occasion it was immediately prior to kick-off, and Jamie Winter had to step in at the heart of defence. This week however, it appears Russell has shaken it off well in advance of the game.

The Dons squad reads: Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Considine, Foster, Nicholson, Dempsey, Lovell, Touzani, Severin, Clark, Miller, Maguire, Mackie, Soutar, D Smith, Winter, Donald, Daal, J Smith...but expect that to change by 3 o'clock tomorrow.