Celtic face St Johnstone this afternoon as the Scottish Champions look to bounce back from the disappointing League Cup exit at Rugby Park to Kilmarnock. Brendan Rodgers’ side go into the game with a number of injury concerns but will be hoping to put the visitors from Perth to the sword.

Celtic recorded wins in the opening fixtures against Ross County and Aberdeen but the defeat to Kilmarnock caused some discontent within the support due to the performance. Notwithstanding the injuries and fact Celtic should have had a penalty, the team were pedestrian for large parts of the game. The manager will be expecting a response today.

Team News

It may be easier to state who is available rather than who is injured. Certainly the manager required to bring notes with him to discuss the timescales of injuries earlier this week. In defence, Kobayashi is due back after the international break whilst Cameron Carter-Vickers (hamstring), Maik Nawrocki (hamstring) and Stephen Welsh (injury) are out for at least eight weeks.

Reo Hatate is out with a calf injury until after the international break. Mikey Johnston is returning to training next week whilst South Korean forward Oh is nearly back. There is positive news given that Alistair Johnston has returned to the squad.

Predicted Team 

Joe Hart will start in goals. Alistair Johnston will need to get up to speed for next week and will likely start in place of Tony Ralston. There has been a suggestion that AJ could play at centre back but with the club in the market to sign another centre back, expect him to play in his natural position. Greg Taylor will start on the left. Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales will likely start in the central pairing.

In midfield, expect Callum McGregor to be joined by Matt O’Riley and David Turnbull. In attack, Kyogo will go through the middle with Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada on the wings.

Predicted XI: Hart; Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Turnbull, O’Riley; Maeda, Kyogo and Abada.

Match Officials

Rookie referee Matthew MacDermid has the whistle today, he is assisted by Ross Macleod and Graham McNeillie. The fourth official is Chris Fordyce and on VAR duties are Andrew Dallas assisted by Drew Kirkland. What could possibly go wrong with that lot?

Kick Off Time

The game kicks off at 3pm (Celtic Park Time)

Where to Watch

The game is not on TV but will be streamed online by Celtic TV for subscribers outside Britain and Ireland.

Predicted Score

Well having got the 3-1 Celtic win spot on against Aberdeen in the last league match, today we’ll go for Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone. That will do nicely.

COYBIG