Rangers v Celtic: 4 emerging talents who could boost their profile

With Celtic’s Moussa Dembele having truly announced himself in the Ladbrokes Premiership with a hat-trick against Rangers in September, a number of emerging talents on both sides of the divide will be looking to shine as the Glasgow giants do battle again on New Year’s Eve.

Here are four rising stars who can do just that at Ibrox, as Scottish football’s biggest rivalry recommences.

Joe Dodoo

The former Leicester City prodigy has shown glimpses of his huge talent this season – most notably with a delightful double away at Partick Thistle. But he’s also frequently been anonymous when coming off the bench.

However, he hasn’t yet had a real crack at an Old Firm game – an occasion which could bring the best out of the confident youngster.

Having been ruled out of September’s clash at Celtic Park through injury, and given just a 12-minute cameo in the pair’s Scottish League Cup meeting, he’ll be desperate to prove his worth against the league leaders.

It’s 10/3 that he finds the net anytime in this crucial clash, while there’s 9/1 on offer for the 21-year-old to open the scoring.

Calvin Miller

The 18-year-old striker isn’t a name too many outside of Parkhead will recognise. But that could all change very soon.

Having impressed in the Hoops’ home game against Partick Thistle earlier this month, the teenage hitman could well play a part against the Gers – with Brendan Rodgers having a proven track record of trusting in youth.

With a series of impressive displays for Celtic and Scotland’s youth teams under his belt, don’t be too surprised if the name Calvin Miller lights up the Ibrox scoreboard this weekend.

Ryan Christie

Okay, with 73 top-flight games under his belt, the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle man is hardly a newcomer in the Ladbrokes SPFL, but he’s only ever played 17 minutes of football against the Gers – and that was way back in October 2014.

That’s a lifetime ago for a player who only turned 21 earlier this year – and with the former Caley Jags man now becoming a regular fixture at Parkhead, Rodgers may well turn to the Scotland Under-21 international to make the difference here.

Josh Windass

Things haven’t quite come good for the Teddy Bears’ summer arrival, but having netted one crucial goal after another for Accrington Stanley last season – scoring 17 times from midfield – the Hoops would underestimate him at their peril.

Pacy, tremendously skilful on the ball and possessing a fierce strike, it’s surely only a matter of time before he hits his stride in Govan.

With his teammates clicking into gear and the Gers taking 13 points from their last five Ladbrokes Premiership games, the son of legendary goalscorer Dean Windass could well deliver a performance to give Rangers fans high hopes for 2017.

In the match betting, Celtic are 8/11 favourites for victory, with Rangers priced at 7/2 and 14/5 on offer for the draw.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing