Brendan Rodgers has named his Celtic team to take on Motherwell at Fir Park in the midday Scottish Premiership match that the Hoops simply must win.
Idah, Palma Welsh and Ralston all drop to the bench from last week’s starting XI while there’s a welcome return for Alistair Johnston and Tomoki Iwata, while Nicolas Kuhn also gets a start as Rodgers returns to his favoured 4-3-3 formation.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is on the bench with the Celtic manager clearly not prepared to risk the defender today with the rest of the season in his thoughts.
Joe Hart is in goals and is certain to receive a huge welcome from the Celtic support in appreciation of his contribution to the Celtic cause these past three seasons. He will be missed when he hangs up his gloves at the end of this season.
The back four of Johnston, Nawrocki, Scales and Taylor needs to be safe and secure defensively but also need to do their bit to speed up the Celtic play, especially the two central defenders.
Tomoki Iwata’s return is most welcome and will allow Matt O’Riley and Callum McGregor to be more offensively minded while Rodgers had returned to Kyogo as the loan striker with Kuhn and Maeda on the wings. Both wingers need to put in significantly better showings than last weekend if Celtic are to take the points today.
The Celtic team is Hart; Johnston, Nawrocki, Scales, Taylor; O’Riley, Tomoki and McGregor (c), Kuhn, Maeda and Kyogo.
Subs are Bain, Palma, Idah, Yang, Oh, Carter-Vickers, Bernardo, Kelly and Ralston.
Kick-off is fast approaching at 12 Noon. Come on you Bhoys in Green!
#CelticFC Team News 📋
Here's how the Celts line up against Motherwell 🟢⚪️
#MOTCEL | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/uXrf5LqReR— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 25, 2024
