Greg Taylor has been forced to miss Celtic's game against Hearts due to soreness, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

The left-back has been a standout player for the champions this term but was conspicuously absent when the official teamlines were released ahead of the SPFL Premiership match in Glasgow.

Hoops boss Postecoglou confirmed in the build-up to kick-off at Parkhead that Taylor had suffered a training setback.

He told BBC Sportsound: "We had a short turnaround from Sunday. Greg pulled up a bit sore but should be OK for the weekend.

"I really think it's a game tonight where we'll really need some energy and tempo in our game and the guys coming in will provide that. 

"They've worked really hard at training. Tony's been really patient after coming back from injury. Bernabei's the same."

Alexandro Bernabei was drafted in at left-back in Taylor's stead while Anthony Ralston was handed his first start since before Christmas.

Liel Abada - fresh from a player-of-the-match display against St Mirren at the weekend - was preferred to Jota at right wing while Matt O'Riley replaced Reo Hatate in midfield.

Celtic currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Premiership. Robbie Neilson's Jambos, meanwhile, are third in the table.

Full matchday squads:

Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Bernabei, McGregor, O’Riley, Mooy, Abada, Kyogo, Maeda. Subs: Bain, Johnston, Haksabanovic, Turnbull, Jota, Kobayashi, Oh, Iwata, Hatate

Hearts: Clark, Grant, Kiomourtzoglou, Atkinson, Devlin, Rowles, Halliday, Forrest, Sibbick, Ginnelly, Hill. Subs: Stewart, Smith, Kingsley, McKay, Neilson, Tait, Kuol, Oda.

Celtic Way:

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