Celtic defender Bobo Balde wants his future with the club sorted out before he departs to captain Guinea in the African Nations Cup on January 6.

MARTIN GREIG and DARRYL BROADFOOT

Bobo Balde wants his Celtic future sorted out before he departs for the African Nations Cup on January 6.

The 32-year-old defender is attracting interest from Barclays Premier League clubs, including Birmingham City and Sunderland, but The Herald understands that his preferred option is to stay at Celtic and re-establish his partnership with captain Stephen McManus in central defence.

The ball is now in Celtic's court to decide whether they want to keep him or not. It seemed certain Balde had no future under Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, until his surprise recall in their 2-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice on Boxing Day. The Parkhead club kept their first clean sheet in 35 away games and Balde will retain his place for the visit of Gretna tomorrow and Wednesday's Old Firm game.

There had been some speculation that his return to the first team may have led him to reconsider his participation in the African Nations Cup, but Balde will definitely leave after the Old Firm game to captain Guinea in the tournament. By that point, he wants to have established whether Celtic want to sell him on, or keep him for the remaining 18 months of his contract.

Celtic's rearguard is expected to be at full strength for next week's Old Firm derby with the return of their talismanic goalkeeper, Artur Boruc.

Boruc will today complete a week of full-intensity training after recovering from knee surgery on December 6. The Polish internationalist is almost certain to make his comeback against Gretna.

Ironically, Celtic's deputy goalkeeper, Mark Brown, helped ensure a first clean sheet away from home in 35 attempts but the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle No.1 will return to the bench at the weekend. Boruc, Balde and McManus were cornerstones of Gordon Strachan's championship success in his first season and all three will be reunited in the starting line-up in time for the second Glasgow derby of the season.

Celtic have lost the last three derby matches against Rangers but with Strachan conceding a lack of physical presence during the 3-0 defeat at Ibrox earlier this season, the manager will be heartened by the imminent return of his imposing goalkeeper and the successful comeback of the intimidating Balde.

Strachan will step-up his search for reinforcement after the visit of Rangers. Coelho, the Brazilian right-back, is expected in Glasgow next week for a whistle-stop tour but that has not diminished interest in Seville's out-of-favour German full-back, Andreas Hinkel.

The 23-year-old was due to have talks with Borussia Dortmund this week but Seville rejected the approach after Celtic pledged to trump their transfer fee.