Adam Idah and Liam Scales to start for Celtic against Kilmarnock today at Rugby Park? I definitely think so…
Extra significance
Today’s clash with Kilmarnock takes on extra significance after Aberdeen went three points clear at the top of the table after a 4-1 win against Dundee at Pittodrie in the Saturday evening match. That also takes them an astonishing TWELVE points clear of theRangers who are therefore under enormous pressure at home to Hearts this afternoon.
Bouncing back from burst bubble at Hampden
Jimmy Thelin, his players and the entire Aberdeen support will be watching the events at Rugby Park and Ibrox this afternoon hoping that one or better still for them, both of the Glasgow sides slip up. Hearts tend to roll over and get their tummy tickled when facing their big cousins but given their position in the table then they will be desperate for the three points themselves.
Hearts fans might even be pleased with a Celtic win
And Hearts fans might even be pleased with a Celtic win this afternoon because of that happens and they take the three points at Ibrox then they could jump up from second bottom in the table, one point ahead of hapless Hibs, to go into seventh place, leapfrogging St Johnstone, Ross County, Kilmarnock and Dundee. Not a bad days work for Hearts if that’s how today pans out.
And it would suit us just fine too. It would also set up a mouthwatering encounter when we come back from the dreaded international break when we visit Tynecastle on Saturday 23 November. That’s the game with the evening kick-off (7.45pm) so it should be some atmosphere!
Imperative that Celtic take all three points
Back to today and It’s imperative that Celtic take all three points to go back on top before we stop for the international break, and to do that we must play our strongest starting XI.
One man who may be in the manager’s plans for a starting place is Adam Idah. Kyogo is very much our number one starting choice up top, and he put in an impressive display against RB Leipzig on Tuesday night, but maybe Brendan will throw a curve ball by starting the Irish international over the Japanese star who will be going away on international duty with Japan alongside Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda after today’s game.
Adam Idah and Liam Scales
After all Adam started the last outing at Rugby Park last May and was instrumental on an unforgettable night when we blew the Ayrshire side away as we clinched the title with a thumping 5-0 victory.
Adam opened the scoring that night, and his all round play and physical presence was a major reason we raced into a 3-0 halftime lead. That’s not the kind of thing that Brendan Rodgers quickly forgets and he referenced that performance in his media conference on Friday afternoon at Lennoxtown, which was attended by The Celtic Star.
Brendan will be be mindful of the game back in May
Maybe that’s what we need today against the physical backline of Kilmarnock? As good as Kyogo is, Adam brings something different especially in the physical sense, and today that’s what could well be needed. And after Kyogo gave 100% on Tuesday night, maybe a change with Adam starting and Kyogo coming off the bench is one of the two changes I reckon that that Brendan will make to the team that started earlier in the week in the Champions League.
Assuming that both Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers are both fine, suspect that one of the two will drop to the bench and we’ll see Liam Scales starting.
Predicted Celtic Team and scores
So I reckon that the Celtic team today will be Kasper Schmeichel, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Reo Hatate; Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn. If that turns out to be correct, remember it’s a prediction and not a leak!
My Scoreline Predictions for today:
Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic
theRangers 0-1 Hearts
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Scales not in starting line up in midweek was because of lack of speed shown against Aberdeen Rodgers knew it but Aberdeen game prove it yes trusty was out of position when Celtic lost possion nice pass from McGrath if trusy or left back was there it wouldn’t have happened but it did scales is a very good defender but lacks that pace that can be explioted I’d have know problem playing him against Kilmarnock he is no weak link just that Trusty ,Carter Vickers have pace and just that bit better in the air but he will play most games coming on or start but he isn’t first pick the now