Ronnie Deila says Jozo Simunovic may be an option for the Scottish Cup semi-final match with Rangers, but he won't be meeting with Croatia's under-21 squad.

The defender has been called up for a European Championship double-header with Spain and Estonia later this month, but it's left the manager puzzled. "I can't understand the call-up. He won't be travelling.

"It will be some weeks before he is fit, but I'm not really sure how close."

Asked if he could be ready for next month's semi-final with Rangers, the Celtic manager conceded it's an option, "that's five weeks away so that is a possibility".

However the manager was quick to prioritise the intervening five games between now and the Hampden date on April 16.

"It's a game we really look forward to - a big, big game .

"Rangers' results have been better this year than they were last, so of course they're getting better.

"We'll do everything we can to get a similar result like we did last time.

"It's something to look forward to, but we are talking about five in a row here, and that's a big thing for the club. The league is very, very important and that's what we'll have to focus on."

That comes tomorrow in the lunchtime kick-off against Partick Thistle which is a chance for Celtic to open a four-point gap on second-placed Aberdeen before they kick-off against Kilmarnock at 3pm.

"Now we just look forward to the game, show our quality on the pitch and make it a hard time for Partick Thistle," added Deila.

"We want to be at the top of the league, challenging for cups and with ten games to go, the end of the season is in sight."