JOHN Kennedy is hopeful that James Forrest will be able to play for Celtic against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday – if the Scottish Cup last 16 match goes ahead as scheduled.

Forrest opened the scoring in the first-half of an emphatic 6-0 triumph over Livingston in a Premiership match at Parkhead today before limping off injured.

Kennedy explained the winger, who only returned from a lengthy lay-off last month, had a hamstring problem, but the interim manager is optimistic he will be available for selection next week.

However, the fourth Old Firm game of the 2020/21 campaign may not go ahead as originally planned after it emerged the funeral of HRH Prince Phillip will be held at 3pm next Saturday.

The SFA issued a statement yesterday revealed they had “entered dialogue with the relevant stakeholders with regard to Scottish Cup fourth round fixtures scheduled on that day”.

Asked about the extent of Forrest’s problem, Kennedy said: “It is too early. We will just have to assess him. It was a general stiffness around the hamstrings, stuff you usually concern yourself about, but hopefully we got him off quick enough.

“It is a different area (from the ankle) and with players coming back after so long you do get niggles and stiffness which are hopefully just a day or two in passing. I don’t want to say too much.

“We are not quite sure yet. He kind of stiffened up around his back and hamstrings and stuff around the start of the second half so it was a case of not taking any risk with him.

“The scoreline allowed us to do that as well, give us some other boys game time. Boys who are itching to play and at the same time get the boys who have had a lot of time, some time off to prepare for next week.”