The South Korea international, who signed from FC Seoul on a four-year deal for a reported £2million, arrived in Glasgow last week claiming his settling-in period would not be long but fearing the lack of fitness would probably prevent him featuring against Rangers.

However, manager Tony Mowbray surprised everyone in the last Old Firm game at Ibrox in October when he handed China captain Zheng Zhi his debut in the 2-1 defeat, just over a week after completing his move to the Parkhead club.

Australia international McDonald met 20-year-old Ki when they faced each other on international duty recently and will not flinch if they line up on the same side at Celtic Park quicker than expected.

The Hoops striker said: "I played against him in an international friendly with Australia just as the fee had been agreed.

"I had a good chat with him, welcomed him to the club and I think that was good for him before he came here to Glasgow.

"He had spent three years in Australia so he knows a bit about me and my home country which is nice.

"He is fitting in quite well, he speaks perfect English and he seems like a very good player. I was very impressed with him when they beat Australia 3-1.

"You never know in Old Firm games, anything is possible as we have seen in the past.

"We have seen some surprise debutants when you don't expect it so maybe, but it's up to the manager though."

The Celtic squad were given longer to prepare for the visit of Rangers when their SPL game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park tonight fell foul of the weather.

An SPL statement said the match was called off due to "approach roads to the stadium being declared unsafe by the police".

Last night's Aberdeen v Falkirk game and tonight's St Johnstone v Hibernian and Hamilton v St Mirren matches were also postponed while the Hearts v Hamilton game is subject to a 2pm inspection.

However, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell blamed Killie for the match being called off.

Lawwell told Celtic's official website: "Clearly we are extremely disappointed that the match has been postponed.

"We have been told that the pitch is perfectly playable, but we have also been informed that the match cannot proceed due to the stadium footprint not being cleared.

"Naturally this is very frustrating for the club and its supporters.

"As is always the case, it is the responsibility of home clubs to ensure that their own footprint or locality is safe and obviously in this case, this has not been achieved."

If Rangers beat Dundee United at Ibrox they will go seven points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPL ahead of the Old Firm derby at Parkhead on January 3.