Celtic return to action this afternoon as Dundee pitch up in Glasgow’s East End. The visitors from the City of Discovery will look to frustrate Celtic but following the win at Ibrox, Brendan Rodgers will hope to continue the feel good factor.
With injury worries slightly eased, Rodgers is able to call upon more players for this afternoon’s match. However, he is still without Marco Tilio, Mikey Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh with Liel Abada also out now.
Predicting the team should only throw up a couple of questions – such as who plays at centre back, who is the third midfielder and who starts on the right?
Joe Hart will start in the nets. The Englishman was excellent in the win at Ibrox and provided a calming influence to the backline.
In defence, expect Nat Phillips to start following his arrival from Liverpool on a loan deal. The English defender will likely be joined by Gustaf Lagerbielke but following his MOTM performance at Ibrox, Liam Scales is a tough player to drop. Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston will likely start in the full-back berths.
theRangers v Celtic – cinch Premiership – Kyogo celebrates with Matt O’ Riley after scoring during the cinch Premiership match at the Ibrox on Sunday 3 September, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
Skipper Callum McGregor started both of Scotland’s games but he will anchor the midfield. Expect Matt O’Riley to be in there beside McGregor with Reo Hatate returning to the side. The Japanese star will likely only feature for an hour or so with David Turnbull and Odin Thiago Holm keen for minutes, too.
In attack, expect Yang to come in for the injured Abada with Daizen Maeda on the left. In the central role, Kyogo is the obvious choice but the manager might consider starting Oh given the amount of games and to get the South Korean hitman’s sharpness up.
Predicted XI: Hart; Johnston, Phillips, Lagerbielke, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate; Yang, Kyogo, Maeda.