Can Celtic avoid more dejection in Dundee?

Will the City of Discovery prove a graveyard for Celtic's title defence? In three prior visits this season (two to Dundee United and one to Dundee), Celtic have returned home with zero points. And having watched their team sink on the sandpit of Tannadice last time out, Celtic fans would be forgiven for carrying a sense of dread with them to Dens Park on Sunday.

Much has to improve from that dismal defeat to United that leaves Martin O'Neill's men five points off leaders Hearts with only 21 left to play for. Just when Celtic had gained enough ground to breathe down the necks of long-time leaders Hearts, they threw in an absolute stinker of a performance and then had a fortnight to stew over it. There may be (badly needed) reinforcements to pep up O'Neill's side this weekend, with right-back Alistair Johnston, midfielder Arne Engels and striker Callum Osmand all in contention for a comeback.

Expectations must be tempered, though, for a returning trio bereft of match sharpness. Celtic will need all the help they can get to overcome a Dundee team who have already provided plenty of problems this season. Celtic were beaten 2-0 at Dens Park in October during the dying embers of Brendan Rodgers' reign.

That was Celtic's first loss at Dundee in 37 years and the first of their eight league defeats this season. There was a scratchy 1-0 victory over Steven Pressley's side in December to give O'Neill a winning send-off first time round on the day Wilfried Nancy was announced as the new manager. As we all know, that did not go well.