Time for Brendan Rodgers to make changes and utilise Celtic’s large squad

I reckon that there will be a few changes for Celtic for tomorrow’s game at Easter Road…

Tomorrow we head to Easter Road for yet another difficult away trip in the Scottish Premiership.  Yes Hibs were woeful at Ibrox last Saturday, but will undoubtedly be a different proposition tomorrow afternoon on their home patch and their new manager, Nick Montgomery, the A-League side Central Coast Mariners boss, will be looking for his first major scalp in his new job. 

He will have watched the tremendous effort that Brendan Rodgers’ side put in on Wednesday night in the Champions league match against Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park and will know his own squad has been well rested all week and will fancy their chances tomorrow afternoon.

After our midweek excursions Celtic will need to be sharp against the Edinburgh side if we want to maintain our strong lead at the top. We put so much effort into the 2-2 draw with Atletico that more than a few will be suffering from tired minds and bodies.

When Daizen Maeda is running on empty after an hour, you know the rest will be affected!

Brendan Rodgers hasn’t really shuffled his pack over the past few weeks, preferring to stick with his preferred XI, but surely that will change tomorrow.

The likes of Kyogo, Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and CCV are stick on starters, but maybe for a few others a well earned rest is on the cards, particularly with a home game against St Mirren looming on Wednesday night.

Reo Hatate is almost certainly going to be missing after suffering what looks like a hamstring injury in the opening stages of the Champions League match.

 Reo Hatate of Celtic looks dejected as he leaves the field after sustaining an injury during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park Stadium on October 25, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

We could see a start for the likes of Tony Ralston, Nat Phillips, and James Forrest, giving a well earned rest to the likes of Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales and Daizen Maeda who have all played a lot of football recently, both for club and country.

Those changes would mean a starting line-up along the lines of Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Phillips, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley, Bernardo, Forrest, Kyogo and Palma.

Maybe not, it’s just my opinion, it might not be those exact players, but I sense there will be a few changes of personnel tomorrow. Brendan will be assessing the players today after their huge effort in midweek and will know who needs a rest and who is good to go.

We’ve been flawless on the road this season in the Scottish Premiership winning at Ibrox, Pittodrie, Livingston, Fir Park and Tynecastle. Getting the three points tomorrow might be the most impressive win of them all for Celtic.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

3 Comments

  1. Im more annoyed at spl and sky for picking kilmarnock V Aberdeen instead of Hibernian V Celtic most sky subscribers in U.K would have wanted Celtic away game we are champions instead show a game on a pitch that dosent that you never see good football or is it cause it will gives Celtic a extra days rest can anyone tell me how this game live on sunday shows SPL in good like its terrible we are going to watch a game full of empty seats on a pitch thats anti football thats a few times people in U.K cant watch the best team in the Spl some one somewhere not doing there job right letting there heart rule their head

  2. Need to bring in some of the squad players cant understand why oh never came on agaist A.Madrid last time came showed nice touches naybe hes not showing commitment dint know why forest came onmost non commital player wont put body on the line showed nothing in big games and that goes fir ibrix where he freezes with fear

  3. I must respectfully, disagree. BR for the last 3 games in succession, has started with what he now sees, as his strongest starting X1. Make sure we rack up a few goals first. Then, if necessary, ring the changes. With Reo out, I would expect to see Bernardo in as his replacement.

    Hail Hail.