Tonight sees Celtic opening the new Scottish Premiership campaign against Dundee at Celtic Park, and with a near full squad to pick from, bolstered with couple of new additions, the supporters will be waiting with interest to see the first starting XI of the campaign…
With speculation also mounting over key players moving elsewhere, Martin O’Neill has quite the conundrum when it comes to selecting his first XI of the campaign. Here’s how I think that Celtic will line-up this evening.
In goals it’s an easy choice, with Viljami Sinisalo fully expected to start. Martin O’Neill is on the hunt for a new goalkeeper who will provide meaningful competition for the gloves but at the moment the Finland international keeper remains first pick for Celtic.
When it comes to the defence, Liam Scales is of course suspended for the first two games of the campaign after going through the booking threshold at the end of last season, and Auston Trusty has just recently arrived back at the club after his World Cup participation with the USA, so Dane Murray could well line up alongside the returning Cameron Carter-Vickers who will make his first competitive appearance in six months.
Or Martin may opt for Trusty if the American World Cup star declares himself ready to perform.
Alistair Johnston like Auston Trusty is not long back from World Cup duty, and with speculation over his future due to serious interest from Everton, with a deal said to be close, so I would say its unlikely that the Canadian will take part, with either Tony Ralston or Colby Donovan taking the right back berth.
Although my money would be on the latter, as he’s impressed in pre-season and seems to have caught the manager’s eye.
In midfield, it’s also doubtful that Arne Engels will start due to intensive interest from West Ham and other clubs, so we could well see a start for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who will now be fitter after a full pre-season under his belt.
Alongside the former England international will naturally be skipper Callum McGregor, with the fit again Benjamin Nygren making up the midfield trio.
In regards to the centre forward area, recently signed Kasper Hogh will likely start after a week of training with his new teammates, plus he’s been playing regularly for Bodo/Glimt in the Norwegian league which started a few weeks ago.
Fellow new signing Camilo Duran has impressed in pre season, albeit it through the middle, but with Hogh the favourite to occupy that position, expect the Colombian to start on the right hand side of the attack, as being naturally left footed, he will be utilised on that flank.
On the left hand side we should expect Sebastian Tounekti to be deployed there to give us some extra creatively, and supply the ammunition for natural goalscorer Kasper Hogh.
Tonight’s predicted Celtic XI…
Sinisalo, Donovan, Tierney, Carter-Vickers, Murray; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, Duran Hogh,Tounekti
Regardless of how the team lines-up Celtic know that a three gaol victory will see us go to the top of the table in the first weekend. That would be lovely!
COYBIG
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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3 Comments
Fair team, personally I think it will be Sinisalo, AJ, CCV, Trusty, KT, Calmac, Engels, Ox, Forest, Hogh and Duran. We shouldn’t be weakening our team because teams are interested in our players. The players we are interested in all played in friendlies, we are playing a competitive game, should be risking anything to not upset a 1st division team in England
Will be interesting to see how MoN makes up the entire 20man SPFL match squad tonight?
Should get a far better indication, of what may be the plans of MoN, with our overall squad?
Personally believe that if both AJ and Engels are still our players, then should be available for selection imo?
Of course you run the risk, as to whether they are going to be mentally tuned in for the match, and end up with 2 half hearted players?
Regardless, still think MoN will only go with 6 defensive options within the squad?
Which would allow 6 midfield and attacking options also, within the overall 20man match day squad imo?
So could name a squad, with both AJ and Engels left out altogether?
Main focus will be upon our 6 attacking options, and where and how they contribute.
Still think we will start with a front 3 of, Duran, Hogh and Yang imo?
Allows for Seb, Osmand and forrest from the bench?
With the prospect of AJ and Engels moving on, and our CL qualification opponents named?
Would still be very surprised if another potential signing isn’t named before kick off imo?
Its not so much the biscuit tin anymore, what message does this send to the plasyer? ” your decent but K300 short o bein good enough ” shldv learned from John mcginn debacle