By Jim Davie

DUNFERMLINE HEAD coach Jimmy Calderwood has been handed a boost ahead of tomorrow’s game against Celtic in Glasgow with the news that striker Noel Hunt is fit again.

The young Irishman has been added to the squad after almost six weeks out due to swelling on his cruciate ligament.

With Stevie Crawford and Craig Brewster both definitely out of the Scottish Cup final rehearsal, the return to fitness of Hunt is timely indeed.

Hunt has never played at Parkhead and is desperate to get a run-out.

“It’s great news that I’m back in the squad,” he said.

“It’s been frustrating being out injured, but hopefully that’s the end of it now and I can work towards getting a few starts and then being involved in the cup final.

“I was warned I would probably pick up a few injuries because I was coming from part-time to full-time training.

“This will be my first senior game back. With Craig (Brewster) and Craw out there was always going to be room in the squad but I didn’t think I was going to be in.

“However, I’ll be surprised if I start the game. Billy (Mehmet) is playing well and Derek (Young) scored last week.”

Hunt already has a goal against the champions to his credit this term, scoring the Pars’ only goal in defeat at East End Park in February.

“I think I just annoyed them and they went on to beat us 4-1,” he joked.

Despite a 5-0 pasting at Parkhead in November the young striker is optimistic his side can spoil the Celtic title party tomorrow and points to their recent form as giving the Pars’ hope that they can get something from the game.

“They’ve slumped just a slight fraction but they have an unbelievable record in the SPL,” he noted.

“I believe they’re getting the trophy after the game and they’ll want to end on a high and put one over on us.

“Hopefully, the whole occasion will put them off a bit.”

Coach Calderwood doesn’t feel the champions will be put off by the emotion of the occasion.

“I don’t see Celtic being distracted by Sunday’s events,” he said yesterday.

“They’ll be wanting to show why they are champions. They’ve probably slipped up by their own high standards in recent weeks.

“Not winning their last two games will be hurting them and they’ll be wanting to put on a very good show, which doesn’t make it any easier for us.

“Believe it or not, I always think it’s great being involved in things like that—60,000 people and an electric atmosphere, that’s what it’s all about.”

The Pars head coach won’t be able to enjoy the luxury of resting his stars with one eye on the cup final, however.

In addition to Brewster (knee) and Crawford (groin), also out are Scott Thomson (ankle) and Scott Wilson (recovering from an appendix operation). Defender Andy Tod is doubtful with a hamstring strain, though the manager is hopeful he will make it.

“I don’t see us being able to rest players the way we did against Dundee United,” said the coach.

“We’ll want to play the strongest team available to us in every game.”

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill will be without Stilian Petrov tomorrow.

The Bulgarian national captain picked up an ankle knock during his country’s friendly win over Cameroon earlier in the week and will miss the match.

Better news for O’Neill is that Chris Sutton (groin) and Alan Thompson (hamstring) could be sufficiently healed to grant them a return this weekend.

However, Jackie McNamara and Stephen Pearson are still rated doubtful and a late decision will be made on the pair.