The SPFL confirmed on Friday that Celtic will be given a 5% allocation for their fans at Ibrox and vice versa for their city rivals at Parkhead from next season onwards.

Such an increase is a step in the right direction and much more worthwhile than having 700, 800, or even no travelling supporters. It makes the fixture a much greater spectacle and arguably adds an extra edge to the games.

Sutton, who only ever played in derbies where the away allocation was as big as can be, is positive surrounding the latest update. He said: [RecordSport] “At last they have seen a bit of sense and around 2500 is certainly better than nothing.

“It’s too late for this season and we’ll have no away supporters for the remaining two encounters.

“The only hope is the clubs see the difference next season and it persuades them to bring back the proper allocation and restore the fixture to former glory.”

Most people within Scottish football are seemingly delighted with the latest update. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admitted it wasn’t before time.

He hopes, similarly to Sutton, that it will eventually get back to what it was in future and that derbies can return to the way they always were.

Indeed, winger Yang, who has just served a two-match suspension, has come back from international duty with South Korea under-23s with a slight, and unexpected, issue.

Speaking to the media this afternoon at Lennoxtown, manager Brendan Rodgers commented on the Hoops’ number 13. He said: [Celtic FC on YouTube] “Yang has come back with a bit of tightness.

“We just need to make sure that’s nothing more serious. He obviously played 2 60 minutes and a 30 minutes while he was away so he’s come back a little bit tight so we just need to check and make sure he’s okay.”

It remains to be seen whether the 21-year-old will feature on Sunday due to his issue but if he doesn’t, fans shouldn’t have many worries.

Nicolas Kuhn is beginning to hit form while Daizen Maeda getting a run of games is only beneficial. In addition, James Forrest has thrown his hat into the ring for a starting berth with his recent cameos.

Even with the absences of Yang, Luis Palma, and Callum McGregor, The Bhoys should have enough to get past a Livingston team who all season, have been down in the dumps.

It was announced this morning that travelling supporters of Celtic and Rangers to Ibrox and Parkhead will be given 5% of the seats in the ground in what is a massive win for Scottish football.

The boss thinks the latest developments are hugely positive, and that they can help pave the way to getting things back to what they originally were regarding away fans at derbies. He said: [Celtic FC on YouTube] “It’s absolutely great news, I think for everyone.

“It’s certainly something that this club have championed for a number of years.

“It’s absolutely fantastic news, and not before time as well.

“The aim at Celtic was never to change it. So, if we can get back to what it was before it was changed that would be absolutely great news for everyone.”

Although the recent increases are in no way comparable to how things were before the allocations were cut, they are a step in the right direction.

It is much better and significantly more worthwhile to have around 2,500 Celtic fans at Ibrox rather than 800, or even zero.

Little or no away supporters at derbies make the spectacle less entertaining for both sets of supporters, and the derby atmosphere within Celtic Park and Ibrox is negatively impacted by having no travelling fans.

From next season, however, things will change and a positive step will finally be taken.

The winger hasn’t played since the Hoops’ 7-1 thumping of Dundee at the end of February, and won’t feature on Sunday at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Speaking to the media at Lennoxtown today, gaffer Rodgers served to give the latest on the status of the Honduran internationalist. “Luis Palma probably will just miss out on this weekend”, he said (Celtic FC on YouTube).

“Hopefully he’ll be available soon.”

In his recent absence, Celtic haven’t particularly missed Palma. Daizen Maeda stepped up with a hat-trick against Livi in the Scottish Cup while Nicolas Kuhn has come into his own over the past few games.

James Forrest has also staked his claim for a berth in the team, scoring one and assisting another in his previous two appearances.

During this period, Yang has been suspended, too, and despite these holes out wide, the team have coped well.

This weekend in West Lothian, they will need to suck it up once more and count on the likes of Kuhn, Maeda, and Forrest to help deliver what would be a key league victory.

Indeed, the boss confirmed that Reo Hatate, who has not played for the Hoops since the 2nd of January, is available for the match.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, the boss gave a hugely positive update. He said: [Celtic FC on YouTube] “Reo Hatate is back and available in the squad which is great news.

“He’s worked very hard, he’s played a bounce game in the time off and he’s built up his fitness so it’s great news he’s back.”

Captain Callum McGregor will miss this weekend’s game because the manager doesn’t want to risk him, but it is full steam ahead with his Japanese teammate.

It remains to be seen whether Hatate will play from the start at Livingston, but the fact he is available for the clash in the first place is crucial.

When fully fit and firing, the 26-year-old is one of the most gifted players in Scottish football. In the final destination of the title and during the run-in over the next few weeks, his talents could be decisive.

The skipper has not been seen since he was subbed off at half-time in a 7-1 demolition of Dundee at the end of February. Although he has been on the pitch since then, manager Brendan Rodgers is not risking him on Livingston’s plastic surface.

Speaking ahead of this Sunday’s crucial clash in West Lothian, the boss provided the latest on his captain. “Callum has been out on the field, but we are not risking him in this game”, he said [PLZ Soccer].

“He should hopefully rejoin training next week.”

Rodgers was then asked if the 30-year-old has a chance of playing in the Glasgow Derby. He said: “Yes, a very good chance.”

This Sunday at the Tony Macaroni Arena, Celtic should have enough in the tank to cope without McGregor.

It is a colossal boost that he will likely be available for next weekend because arguably, it is the biggest game of the Hoops’ season.

At the heart of the midfield, particularly in the big games, McGregor is a driving force and catalyst from which all good things come. The significance of his availability for the derby should not be understated.

Previously, Kennedy took interim charge of the Hoops in 2021 and this weekend will be a similar scenario.

Throughout his coaching career, Kennedy has gained vast praise from several players. Kris Ajer had a close relationship with him, and Joe Hart recently talked up his abilities.

Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s trip to Livingston, the ‘keeper, who is set to retire at the season’s end, was rather complimentary of the 40-year-old. He said: [Celtic FC on YouTube] “John will step in. Personally, my whole journey has been with him and he’s an exceptional coach.

“He’s definitely got managerial skills from learning from great managers such as Brendan in the past, working with Ange, we look forward to seeing what he’s got.”

Still a relatively young age, Kennedy has had opportunities to leave Celtic in the past but he has remained faithful regardless of the manager.

He has been with the club whether it is Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou, or Brendan Rodgers at the helm. Such loyalty in football is hard to come by and this weekend, Kennedy will be rewarded as he steps up to take charge from the technical area.

The boss said before the international break that he would be assessed ahead of Sunday’s game, and it has now been revealed by Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that he be absent for the clash.

Although having the skipper and manager absent this Sunday is a blow for Celtic, they should have enough to push past Livingston.

The Lions did come to Parkhead a few weeks ago and put up a fight, but at this stage of the season, the Celts can’t afford any more dropped points.

If they are to win the title, Rodgers’ team need to be nothing short of impeccable and with a relatively full-strength squad available barring McGregor, there is nothing to say they can’t.

Their push to the title starts in West Lothian this weekend in a game that is even more hotly anticipated than normal because of the recent break.

The boss will be in the stand at the Tony Macaroni Arena, but is free to take charge from the technical area at Ibrox.

Although this comes as somewhat of a win, Rodgers has admitted his and the club’s disheartenment at the result of the trial. He said: [Sky Sports] “We’re obviously disappointed with the outcome however we respect the decision.

“My thanks go to the club for their unwavering support in helping us fight it but like I say, we respect the decision and move on.”

When asked if he has any regrets over his comments after the Hearts loss, Rodgers said: “No. I think there’s just a misunderstanding of interpretation, really.

“In all my time when I’ve been in Scotland, I’ve always talked about standards, to improve standards.

“My whole drive always up here has been about the standards and I just felt that on that day, it wasn’t quite where we’d want it to be.

“Certainly, I had no regrets over it [comments], no.”

Sunday will be the first time Rodgers will have been in the stands as a manager. It will be a strange experience, but at Livingston, he is not too far away from the pitch.

Although his lack of presence in the dugout may make a difference, as long as the Hoops come away with three points, fans will be content.

Winning at this stage of the campaign is all that matters and if the Celts are victorious in their next eight league matches, they will be champions again come May.

The Hoops travel to Livingston in the Scottish Premiership as the business end of the season begins.

As a result of his comments after his team’s defeat to Hearts a few weeks ago, Rodgers was given a one-match touchline ban with another suspended and will be in the stands for the game.

Hart admitted that although the situation is not great, the players will carry on. “You want your leader, you want your manager available but sometimes you have situations like this”, he said (Celtic FC on YouTube).

“He’s had more than long enough to put his message across of what he needs and what he wants from us.

“There’s no doubt we want Brendan in the dugout with us but rules say that he’s not there so look, he’s going to do everything he possibly can to help us and that’s no different.”

John Kennedy will be the figurehead in the dugout for Celtic this Sunday. Although it is not the best that Rodgers is in the stands, it shouldn’t have too great of an impact on the players.

Mark Wilson likened the manager being absent to when a class gets a substitute teacher in a school and if that is what it will be like for Celtic this weekend, let’s hope there are no disruptions to the lesson.