Stokes is back after suspension and Matthews will return from an ankle injury, while Nir Bitton played 90 minutes for Israel in their 1-0 defeat to Belgium on Tuesday despite ankle concerns.

Charlie Mulgrew (hamstring tendon) and Mikael Lustig (ankle) are still not ready to return, while Liam Henderson joined Rosenborg on loan this week.

St Mirren manager Gary Teale has only one injury absentee in the shape of midfielder Isaac Osbourne.

However, Teale could decide to shake up his side following the 2-0 defeat at St Johnstone last weekend.

Defender Marc McAusland, who has not featured in the last three matches, should be available, while January signings Yoann Arquin, Emmanuel Sonupe and Kieran Sadlier are other options for Teale.

The Buddies are four points adrift at the foot of the table and have just eight games left to save their Scottish Premiership future.

Defender Jereon Tesselaar said: “These last eight games will be like cup finals for us. We need to treat this Friday’s match like that.

“I know St Mirren won against Celtic a couple of years ago in the League Cup semi-final. Kilmarnock won against them in the final the year before, so that shows everything is possible – even against Celtic.

“The last time I managed to beat them was two years ago with Kilmarnock. Cillian Sheridan and Liam Kelly both scored.

“If we want to do the same again, we have to work our socks off for the entire 90 minutes.

“Every team in Scotland has quality, especially us. I know what our quality is – but it is not only quality you need, especially against Celtic. You need to work really, really hard.

“Before the season you say every point against them is a bonus but now it is different. We are in a different position now and we need every point we can get.

“We still have to play Motherwell and Ross County twice and those games are massive for us. They need to win, we need to win.

“We’re not giving this up as a lost cause – it’s going to be a battle for these last eight games.”