After a gruelling battle on Wednesday evening in Bergamo, Brendan Rodgers has the opportunity to use the squad tomorrow against Motherwell…
To remain mentally concentrated for 95 minutes against Gian Piero Gasperini’s Europa League title winners was some ask. But, the players well and truly delivered and then some on Wednesday evening in Bergamo.
Question marks over Alistair Johnston’s fitness
However, the toll this must have taken both mentally and physically on the players surely means that the Celtic manager will ring the changes for the clash at Fir Park tomorrow afternoon. That is not to underestimate Motherwell, who although being beaten by Dundee 1-0 in North Lanarkshire last Saturday, have had a terrific start to their domestic campaign.
Heading into the encounter with the Steelmen there are question marks over Alistair Johnston’s fitness. The Canadian just about managed to make it through the game at Gewiss Stadium having picked up cramp in the final minutes. Anthony Ralston is waiting in the wings. Scotland internationalist Ralston is fresh having started in Steve Clarke’s latest round of Nations League fixtures, and could be given his first Premiership start of the season.
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Luke McCowan deserves a start, Kyogo coming back in
Meanwhile, Luke McCowan deserves a chance to play from the off. Every time he has featured in green and white Hoops since his arrival from Dundee, the midfield playmaker has been so impressive. Calm in possession, but he shows a real attacking intent, causing havoc to opposition defences like we saw last Saturday versus Aberdeen where his presence led to an increase in chance creation.
Understandably, Brendan Rodgers used Adam Idah as an outball against Atalanta, and it was the Irishman’s two crucial goals last season at Fir Park that turned the tide for Celtic in the title race. However, the expectation will be that Kyogo, who has four league goals to his name, will return to the starting XI.
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Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor on the bench
Despite Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor’s welcome return from injury, it is doubtful they will be thrown in from the start. American centre-back Carter-Vickers has not featured for the Hoops since the 14 September which was a league fixture against Hearts. Whilst Taylor, who could be entering into his final few months as a Celtic player, has not been seen for Celtic since a tormenting night in Dortmund at the beginning of the month.
Rotation is vital
Rotation is vital, there is lots of quality within the squad and tomorrow’s contest with Motherwell is a perfect opportunity to make some changes. It does not have to be radical, but to freshen personnel up ahead of a congested set of fixtures across three different competitions would make sense.
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Motherwell v Celtic kicks off at 3pm on Sunday 27 October. The match is live on Sky Sports and also on Celtic TV for subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland.
Conor Spence