Celtic to allow Douglas look for new club

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has granted goalkeeper Rob Douglas the chance to find a new club.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has granted goalkeeper Rob Douglas the chance to find a new club.

The Scotland international has fallen behind Magnus Hedman in the Parkhead pecking order this season.

But Douglas, who joined Celtic from Dundee over three years ago, wants regular first-team football to cement his place in the national side.

His agent Blair Morgan told the Sunday Mail: "I can confirm I am looking for a club down south at Robert's request.

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"We are doing so on the basis of his position with the national team.

"Berti Vogts has already made it clear his players have to be playing first team football to be part of the national squad.

"If Robert was guaranteed to be playing regularly he would be happy to stay at Celtic but he is concerned that to stay under other circumstances would be damaging.

"Martin (O'Neill) recognises Robert needs a regular game and has given me permission to explore other options."

Meanwhile, Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson shrugged off injuries to line up for Celtic at Fir Park. Manager Martin O'Neill made four changes from the side which crashed out of the CIS Insurance Cup at Hibernian on Thursday.

O'Neill brought back Hartson, Neil Lennon, Stilian Petrov and Johan Mjallby which meant young trio John Kennedy, Ross Wallace and Stephen Crainey, as well as skipper Paul Lambert, dropped out.

Motherwell were hoping to end a run of three consecutive defeats and manager Terry Butcher made one change to the side which went down to Hibernian, Paul Quinn coming in for Jason Dair.

Elsewhere, Rangers must travel to Hibernian as they begin their defence of the Tennent's Scottish Cup. The Easter Road side are already destined for a CIS Insurance Cup semi-final against the Light Blues after their win over Celtic on Thursday.

But the two clubs must now go head-to-head in the Scottish Cup competition. Bell's First Division side Ross County have landed a plum trip to Celtic in the third round. Dundee United must make the short trip to Fife for a tie against fellow Bank of Scotland Premier League side Dunfermline.

Aberdeen will play host to Dundee in the third all-SPL tie of the draw.

Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Quinn, Hammell, Lasley, Leitch, Adams, Pearson, Burns, Clarkson. Subs: Dair, Corr, Fagan, Wright, Fitzpatrick.

Celtic: Douglas, Varga, Mjallby, Balde, Miller, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson, Larsson. Subs: Marshall, Gray, Maloney, Wallace, Smith. Referee: J Underhill (Scotland)