Strachan facing selection dilemma

Gordon Strachan's first dilemma of the Roy Keane era at Celtic was how to dissect last Sunday's embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat at Clyde. He opened the floor for everyone to have their say, according to one of his young defenders, Adam Virgo. "Everything was laid on the table," the 22-year-old said yesterday. "Everyone is in this together and we want to pull through."

Strachan's second dilemma comes today, when the SPL leaders host Kilmarnock, who have not won a league game at Parkhead for 51 years but lie fifth this morning, still chasing a Uefa Cup spot. With Stilian Petrov nearing match fitness, Strachan must decide whether to play the Bulgarian as well as Keane and Neil Lennon in midfield, and if not, who to drop or where to relocate one of them.

Strachan revealed that contract talks with Petrov, who is wanted by Fulham, are on hold."He's not going anywhere and we don't understand why people think the worst when we decide to break contract negotiations," Strachan said.

Another player on the agenda was Hibernian's captain, Garry Caldwell, who could become a Celitic player in the summer.

Strachan would not be drawn on speculation that he hopes to sign Chelsea's Wayne Bridge on loan or Dundee United's Mark Wilson on a permanent basis. However, he said there was still a chance that China's Du Wei could remain at Celtic, despite a shocking performance against Clyde.

Celtic are seven points clear of Hearts, who have agreed a deal to sign the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder, Mirsad Beslija, for £800,000, although the player will not feature at Dunfermline today.

Rangers, 17 points behind Celtic, play at Motherwell tomorrow, when Dado Prso is expected to return after almost two months out with a hamstring injury.

* Dundee United have agreed a compensation package with Inverness Caledonian Thistle for 39-year-old Craig Brewster to become their new manager.