Celtic fans will know that Kasper Schmeichel has been stepping up his recovery and has been spotted in full training again.
The Dane injured his shoulder on international duty in March and hasn’t played for Celtic since, with backup stopper Viljami Sinisalo replacing him between the sticks.
Sinisalo has been an able deputy and throughout his run, he has experienced the highs of winning the Premiership title at Tannadice to the lows of being targeted by Rangers fan missiles at Ibrox.
Now, Schmeichel has fully recovered from his injury and Brendan Rodgers named him in the starting XI to face Hibs at Parkhead on Saturday.
Sinisalo was back on the bench, but Rodgers confirmed the Finnish youngster will get another chance to impress this season.
The Celtic plan for Viljami Sinisalo & Kasper Schmeichel
Rodgers was speaking to the BBC before Celtic faced Hibs in the Premiership and was asked about his decision to start Schmeichel.
He then confirmed the plan for his goalkeepers for the rest of the league season, with Sinisalo to come back in against Aberdeen on Wednesday and Schmeichel to play on trophy day versus St Mirren.
However, the Northern Irishman stopped short of naming who would play in goals against the Dons on May 24 for the Scottish Cup final.
Rodgers said: “Yeah, I think he’s (Schmeichel) come through really well. Vil has done fantastic. Indirectly he’s had that run and it gives us a chance to see him, and thought that he’s been excellent.
“So Vil will play Wednesday night away at Aberdeen. We just wanted to get Kasper in (against Hibs).
“Sometimes in football there are short memories, but thankfully as a manager I know how good he has been for me virtually all season.
“So he (Schmeichel) will play for me today, he will play next week against St Mirren and Vil will play against Aberdeen. But great to have him back.”
Schmeichel almost guaranteed to play Scottish Cup final
Now that Schmeichel is back, Sinisalo would probably have to score a hat-trick against Aberdeen on Wednesday night to secure a starting berth at Hampden.
Sinisalo has impressed Celtic fans and they can see him becoming Schmeichel’s long term successor after the big Dane retires.
But for now, Schmeichel is the main man and if he can stay injury-free for the rest of the season, he will 99 percent play in the Scottish Cup final.
Big players are needed for big occasions and Schmeichel will be the man Rodgers will call upon.
