Ange Postecoglou has made a huge call at the heart of Celtic’s defence in today’s game against Dundee – by dropping the currently under-par Nir Bitton in favour of young defender Stephen Welsh.
Bitton, who was at fault for Celtic’s first leg against FC Midtjylland, alongside not covering himself in glory against FK Jablonec in the 4-2 victory in midweek, has been dropped to the bench in Postecoglou’s first big call of his managerial tenure at Celtic Park.
Joe Hart makes his Scottish Premier League debut in goal at Celtic Park, having replaced the inept Scott Bain and Vasilis Barkas as the Bhoys’ number one.
Carl Starfelt continues to make the side despite his shaky start to proceedings in the famous green and white, whilst Greg Taylor and the in-form Anthony Ralston make up the rest of today’s defence.
In midfield, there is a surprise start for Tom Rogic. The Aussie hasn’t started a game for Celtic since February’s embarrassing loss against Ross County, although having impressed his fellow countryman in training, he earns a place in the Number 10 slot, in front of the hard-working and reliable captain Callum McGregor, and starlet David Turnbull. With no real defensive shield bar McGregor, it should be goals, goals and more goals for Celtic today – and likely Dundee, too.
In the attacking trio, Ryan Christie looks to continue his stellar form on the left-wing, with Celtic’s player of the season so far Liel Abada lining up on the right. It is no surprise to see these two thrown into the mix, with Abada having stolen the hearts of many a Bhoys’ fan since his arrival and Christie producing the form we all knew he was capable of pre-Lennon.
And Kyogo Furuhashi makes his first league start for the club since his £4.5million arrival from Vissel Kobe last month; having undergone a quarantine period, the Japanese international was only fit enough to face Hearts from the bench having not trained with the squad properly.
However, having trained and gelled with his team-mates, it appears he is Ange’s first-choice striker now that Odsonne Edouard has been dropped to the bench, following intense media speculation linking him to Brighton.
📋 Our line-up for the Hoops’ first home league game of the season – come on, Bhoys! ✊#WelcomeHome | #CELDUN | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/nCbRHyCDk9
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 8, 2021
On the bench: Bain, Bitton, Ajeti, Soro, Edouard, Forrest, Montgomery.
