Brendan Rodgers has named his team for this afternoon’s Viaplay Cup Round of 16 tie. There are full debuts for Odin Thiago Holm and Gustaf Lagerbielke on what is often dubbed a tricky surface at Rugby Park. The Swedish defender was signed to replace Carl Starfelt and he will make his first appearance in the Hoops as Celtic look to retain the trophy.
Joe Hart will start in goals.
Anthony Ralston starts in the right full-back berth with Greg Taylor at left full-back. New signings Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke start together in the centre of defence.
Celtic skipper Callum McGregor is joined by Holm and Matt O’Riley in the starting XI.
In attack, Liel Abada starts out right and Daizen Maeda out left and then Kyogo through the middle.
📋 #CelticFC League Cup Team News 📰
🟢 Full debuts for Lagerbielke & Holm!#KILCEL | #ViaplayCup | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/N6bsnT6siV
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 20, 2023
CELTIC: Hart; Ralston, Nawrocki, Lagerbielke, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Holm; Abada, Kyogo, Maeda.
On the Bench: Bain, Scales, Haksabanovic, Yang, Turnbull, Kwon, Tomoki, Bernabei, Forrest.
Rodgers will no doubt appreciate that his options are somewhat limited on the bench, which will likely make the Irishman venture into the market later this summer. The main thing today, however, is progression into the next round.
