Celtic are due to face Kilmarnock this afternoon as Brendan Rodgers’ side return to domestic action. The midweek saw a heart wrenching defeat to Lazio in the Champions League, despite being the better team.
Now, Rodgers will be preparing for the test of Kilmarnock, who inflicted a League Cup defeat on his side earlier this season.
Joe Hart missed the win last weekend through suspension and he will return to the Starting XI this afternoon.
Celtic go into the game with buoyed by the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers, who made his return midweek. The American defender could come in from the start as the manager looks to get him back up to maximum sharpness, especially ahead of the crucial run of fixtures at the end of this month. Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki remain out. Gustaf Lagerbielke was suspended during the week and he returns to the squad.
Callum McGregor will start in the midfield, along with Matt O’Riley. The third spot may well be Reo Hatate; however, the maverick midfielder looked somewhat out of sorts in the middle on Wednesday, taking a punch to the head may have impacted upon that. You would not be surprised to see Paulo Bernardo come into the team, he showed glimpses and the manager may wish to see what the Portuguese midfielder can offer by giving him his first start.
In attack, Kyogo will start through the middle. Daizen Maeda was good for the goal but it may be an opportunity to start Luis Palma on the left with either Maeda on the left or someone like James Forrest. The manager will want to use the pace of Maeda to really get at Killie.
Predicted XI: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Bernardo; Maeda, Kyogo, Palma.