Saturday
1230pm
Bitton, Christie, Elhamed (all Covid related) and Forrest and Johnston will be missing for Celtic.
Edouard is able to return to Scotland tomorrow after his Covid isolation but not really clear if he’s fit or healthy. Ajeti is back training I believe and should be available for the game.
It’ll be interesting to see what back three alignment Lennon goes with (assuming he doesn’t change to a four). Both Duffy and Jullien appear more suited to the central role, as opposed to being dragged out to the flanks when they play on the right.
What’s your starting team? Is Laxalt in line to start? Think Lennon will go with something like:
Barkas
Jullien, Duffy, Ajer
Frimpong, Brown, McGregor, Laxalt
Ntcham
Edouard, Ajeti
Although maybe he’d be hesitant to start with two strikers whose fitness is doubtful.
Not sure if Rogic and Griffiths will have done enough work in the international break to make themselves viable starters. Klimala an option too. Am I missing an obvious attacking option?
Elyounoussi is the other candidate
Of course.
I’d say he’ll start instead of one of the main strikers. Play a kind of a floating attacking role.
Lennon will be get serious abuse though if that doesn’t come off.
Packing the midfield and playing only one out and out striker at home and still losing/drawing against the fucking huns etc etc.
0-2
Yeah I think Elyounoussi will start. Not sure if Edouard has been able to train or allowed to train so I’m doubtful he will start. Elyounoussi should work better with a more conventional striker like Ajeti or Griffiths anyway.
I wouldn’t start Ntcham. I think he’s been really poor. But I’m not sure it’s realistic to expect Turnbull to start and Christie missing means it’s down to Ntcham or a wild card like Rogic.
I’d go with that except for:
Rogic for Ntcham
Elyounoussi for Edouard
Klimala for Ajeti
Think Lennon will go for Taylor over Laxalt
Either Turnbull or Ntcham in midfield
Elyonoussi and one of Edouard or Ajeti up top.
Lennon likes Ntcham so he will start or maybe Turnbull. Can’t see Lennon starting Rogic as he doesn’t trust him even though Rogic is the most proven performer for Celtic over those two.
So the oniy starter missing due to covid is Christie. Much ado about nothing.
I think Bitton would have played too. And we’ll see about Edouard.
But it’s not just about starting. It’s a 5 sub league. I think 3 of the 4 Covid players would certainly have played some part.
Think we’ve won 3 and lost 3 of the last 6 league games against them over 2 previous seasons, but have never really paid attention to their team. Maybe I should be paying them more respect ONLINE. What’s their lineup likely to be?
They will probably be
McGregor
Tavernier Goldson Balogun Barisic
Kamara Jack
Arfield
Hagi Morelos Kent
McGregor is a doubt for them. Aribo too. He might play instead of Arfield or Hagi maybe if he’s fit. I think Roofe is injured too.
Helander, Davis and Aribo are probably the most likely to play other than those above.
Celtic are hoping star man Ryan Christie could yet be given a dramatic 11th hour reprieve to face Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday.
Record Sport understands the champions believe Christie should be cleared to take part in the first Old Firm derby of the season despite being ordered to self isolate for a fortnight by government health officials 11 days ago.
And they are closely monitoring an attempt by Arsenal to have Kieran Tierney made available for their Premier League showdown with Manchester City at the weekend.
Both Christie and Tierney were instructed to leave Scotland’s squad last week after former Celtic team mate Stuart Armstrong tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final glory night against Israel.
While Armstrong would be available for selection for Southampton this weekend, after a 10 day quarantine period, Tierney and Christie have been instructed to stay under effective house arrest.
But today Gunners boss Mikel Arteta insisted he was hopeful of having Tierney in his squad for the trip to the Etihad. And Celtic top brass are awaiting developments as manager Neil Lennon prepares for a table top showdown with his city rivals having already lost at least two players to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are still having some discussions with the authorities,” the Arsenal boss said.
“This is getting very complicated when you are sending players abroad and obviously you lose control.
“Some authorities have different regulations to the actual ones in the Premier League.”
Definitely out are Nir Bitton and Hatem Elhamed, with the Israeli duo remaining in their homeland after coming down with the disease on international duty - while star striker Odsonne Edouard could also miss the match after a recording a positive swab after reporting for duty with the French under 21s.
And while Edouard’s availability remains unclear, Celtic have not given up hope of Christie being given a green light to play after a series of negative tests over the last week.
A source said: “We are watching the situation with Kieran and Arsenal very closely but we will have to wait and see how those discussions go. Obviously, if Arsenal are given permission for him to play on Saturday then it would be difficult to understand why the same would not apply to Ryan.”
Curiously, there was still no confirmation tonight of when Edouard will arrive back in Glasgow after completing a 10 day isolation period in Paris.
But Celtic did move quickly to hire a private jet and will fly keeper Vasilis Barkas back into the country in the early hours of Friday morning after fears the £5m new boy could be left stranded in Athens by an air traffic control strike.
Barkas was on the bench as Greece drew 0-0 with Kosovo in a Nations League clash on Wednesday night and had been scheduled to catch a 7am flight back to Glasgow this morning.
But with two days of industrial action set to begin just an hour later, Celtic forked out to ensure he wasn’t left grounded in Athens.
Neil Lennon, meanwhile, insists the football chiefs must reconsider player safety issues around Covid-19 during international breaks.
The manager told Sky Sports Scotland: “It can’t go on the way it is going because we are losing too many players. Not just us, but a lot of other clubs as well.
“Even countries. Look at the Czech Republic for example, in the previous round they had to completely change the squad.
“It totally dilutes the quality and integrity of the competition.
“It is very difficult for me to say you are not going to play for your country, that is something that I would never want to do to a player.
“But these are unprecedented times and we are in a very difficult situation.
“Even at home now, it looks like the virus is ramping up. So ideally we don’t want them to travel, but we are not going to point the finger at them and say you can’t go.”
Nothing new from Lennon’s press conference.
The Scots are a terror from blaming their decline as a football nation on the PlayStation . No kids play “fitba oan the streets anymair “
Did Jullien train today do we know? He missed training yesterday apparently.
Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t realise he was struggling again. Could prompt a return to a back four if he’s out.
Racing Post’s preview
Where to watch
Sky Sports Main Event, 12.30pm Saturday
Best bet
Rangers
2pts 17-10 Betfair, Coral, Ladbrokes
Team news
Celtic
Covid-19 and quarantine issues mean Nir Bitton, Hatem Elhamed, Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard are set to miss the game against Rangers. James Forrest remains sidelined through injury.
Rangers
Steven Gerrard has doubts over Joe Aribo and Allan McGregor, who have all missed minutes in recent weeks, but Kemar Roofe could be set to return to the squad.
Match preview
Rangers opened up at 5-2 for the first Old Firm clash of the season and it was no surprise to see that price collapse.
Celtic have been the dominant force in the Scottish Premiership but there looks to be a serious chance of Rangers breaking that control, both at Parkhead, and as the season progresses.
The unbeaten Gers have conceded just three goals and they are a point clear of their fierce rivals. Celtic have a game in hand on the table-toppers but it’s not just about league position.
Steven Gerrard’s side are outperforming the Bhoys on shot data and the manner of their victories, both domestically and in European competition, has been extremely impressive.
Rangers hammered Dutch side Willem II 4-0 in Holland in the Europa League before smashing five past Motherwell at Fir Park just three days later.
Gerrard’s men then went on to beat a strong Galatasaray side 2-1 in Europe at Ibrox and followed that up with a 2-0 home win against Ross County, again after a quick turnaround.
Alfredo Morelos continues to find the net at the head of the Rangers attack and he has been well supported by Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi.
There’s a good shielding of solid defence in midfield, courtesy of Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara, and the Gers could be further boosted by big-money summer signing Kemar Roofe’s return to fitness.
You can’t ignore the fact that Celtic have won their last seven league matches but it’s in a division that Neil Lennon’s side, much like Rangers, are always going to dominate.
It has been far more of a struggle for Celtic in Europe and perhaps that’s a better indication of the standard of Lennon’s squad.
The Bhoys were beaten by Ferencvaros in the Champions League and they needed a 90th-minute winner against Riga in the Europa League. They also struggled past Sarajevo in the same competition.
Odsonne Edouard has tested positive for Covid-19 this week and is unlikely to start against Rangers. The Frenchman joins Nir Bitton, Hatem Elhamed and Ryan Christie, who have Covid or quarantine issues, and that could further swing things in Rangers’ favour.
The big prices about a Rangers victory may have disappeared during the week, but there still looks to be some value in the current mark and they look worthy of support.
Key stat
Rangers are unbeaten in 13 matches this season.