Players are professional enough to put disappointment behind them, but expect a few changes to the Celtic starting XI on Sunday up in Dingwall…
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor will miss the trip to Ross County this weekend and while Alistair Johnston is available after going off in Dortmund with a back problem, the Canadian may also be given a seat on the bench rather than in the starting line-up against the Highlanders.
After a long hard inquest into our humbling defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, all thoughts now turn to Sunday’s league clash against Ross County up in Dingwall. Brendan Rodgers and Liam Scales spoke to the media this afternoon and while the inquest into what went wrong in Dortmund on Tuesday night happened yesterday, both confirmed that the squad has now moved on and all focus is in getting the three points in Dingwall.
The players have had a long few days to let the disappointment of their performance sink in, and as they are professionals, it should be tucked firmly at the back of their minds and all their focus will be on winning the next match.
In terms of team selection it will be an interesting one, but we know that at least one change will be made from the side that started against Dortmund, with Greg Taylor being out with a calf injury that will sideline for a few weeks.
Kasper Schmeichel will definitely keep his place and rightly so. Alistair Johnston hobbled off in Germany so I’d expect him to be replaced by Tony Ralston, although Brendan perhaps suggested otherwise today. With Greg Taylor out, Alex Valle will get the nod for his first Scottish Premiership start. The Bhoy from Barcelona was the one positive from that tough night in the Westfalenstadion.
At Centre back, despite getting the runaround in Germany, I’d expect Auston Trusty and Liam Scales to keep their places as CCV remains sidelined, maybe a rest over the international break is the best option anyway for our Big Strong Man. Brendan says he expects him to be available after the international break with huge games against Aberdeen and Atalanta coming up.
In the middle Callum McGregor and Arne Engels will definitely start with either Paulo Bernardo or Reo Hatate playing alongside them.
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Reo started on the bench in Germany, so I think he will get the nod for Dingwall. Up top Daizen Maeda will keep his place, how could you drop him? He’s so vital to our set up, so he’s a definite starter. On the other flank Nicolas Kuhn is our best option, but with the German being prone to injuries, not to mention a energy zapping game on Tuesday I’m expecting him to sit this one out with the reliable James Forrest getting the nod.
Through the middle I think we’ll see Adam Idah get a start. Kyogo had a thankless task on Tuesday and was chasing shadows all night, so maybe it would be beneficial for him to sit this one out.
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Adam is a perfect replacement and this is a game that’s tailor made for him. so I’d expect him to make the most of it.
Not a lot of changes, but ones that you could say are necessary. It won’t weaken us as it’s still a very strong Celtic side. I might be wrong, but I think Brendan will be thinking along similar lines.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Could well be right regarding team selection for Dingwall?
Still would have my doubts regarding CCV returning after the international break, and been fit enough for 2 huge matches in a few days, all the same?
Hardly helps matters that Trusty will be away on international duty with the USA also?
So wouldn’t expect Trusty to return until the day before the sheep match, which would make him an unlikely starter for the sheep match, with the amount of travelling involved for himself imo?
So with that prospect in mind?
Wouldn’t it potentially be more beneficial to ourselves if Rocki was started in Dingwall?
Can’t see that happening, but hope it’s not something that could bite ourselves in a couple of weeks time?