NIR BITTON will start against Scotland tonight after the Israel manager Willie
Ruttensteiner decided to ignore Neil Lennon’s pleas to give him a night off. The defender was forced from the field with an injury in Riga, missing three games for Celtic but Ruttensteiner has deemed him fit to start.
🇮🇱Israel’s starting XI to face Scotland:
Marciano, Dasa, Nir Bitton, El Hamed, Tibi, Yeini, Natcho, Golasa, Solomon, Dabbur, Zahavi
Three Scotland🏴 based players start tonight in Glasgow. Kickoff in just over an hour. #SCOISR
— Israel Football (@Israel_Footy) October 8, 2020
Celtic defender Hatem Abd Elhamed also starts for the Israelis in the Euro play-off semi-final. Lennon said during the week that he didn’t expect Bitton to play, telling the Daily Record that he wouldn’t be fit until the Celtic v Rangers game on October 17.
“I don’t think he’ll be fit to play for them. I reckon he won’t be ready for that until the first game after the break.”
Elsewhere, Callum McGregor starts in the midfield versus the Israelis with his Celtic teammate Greg Taylor on the bench. Ex-Celt David Marshall starts in nets as Scotland look to take a step closer to ending a 22-year wait for an appearance at a major tournament.
Kris Ajer starts for Norway with Moi Elyounoussi on the bench. With Shane Duffy captaining Ireland in their match, despite the claims of Gary Breen that a move to Celtic would end his international career.
