SOCCER:NIALL McGinn returned to Northern Ireland for a well-earned break after his double against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park helped Celtic move within a point of league leaders Rangers.
The Hoops wideman missed pre-season training after breaking a metatarsal bone in his foot at the end of the last campaign, but returned to score in last Wednesday’s 3-2 Scottish League Cup win over Saints at the same venue.
It took just over a minute to open the scoring against the Perth side in the SPL rematch with a similar goal, pouncing on a rebound from goalkeeper Graeme Smith’s save to knock in from close range.
Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre doubled the visitors’ lead before the Northern Ireland international
finished off a convincing win a minute from the end, albeit fortuitously, with a sclaffed shot.
Rangers’ 100 per cent record in the league came to an end, ahead of their Champions League bout at Valencia on Tuesday, at the hands of Inverness Caledonian Thistle as they earned a draw at Ibrox.
The Scottish champions had been aiming for 10 wins out of their opening league 10 matches – what would have been their best start to a season for 112 years.
Maurice Edu provided a first half lead, but Eric Odhiambo came off the bench to snatch a late leveller.
Hearts were beaten at home 3-0 by Kilmarnock in yesterday’s game. The result sees the Edinburgh outfit slide down to fifth place.
