A return to MacDiarmid Park for the Celts this evening. This is the first of 4 huge games before the international break
Tierney and Hogh back in training, not sure whether either will be involved but I’d hope they both start off the bench and get a few minutes near the end to sharpen them up for Sunday.
Yang is away until after the international break. AJ, Jota, Osmand and Emenalo will all hopefully be ready to go with him after it so it’s really about getting through these 4 games without being defeated and then trying to build from there.
MON said there were a few fitness issues after the St Mirren game so I’m expecting changes this evening.
We are currently light on numbers defensively - maybe Murray might come in for CCV to ease his load a bit, Lotomba might get a start too at either RB/LB.
Midfield we have plenty of options so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Oxlade/Sorenson come in or maybe both. I’d hope we’d consider giving McGregor a rest.
Up top I think it should be Tounekti Duran Hassan. Hassan needs minutes to build his sharpness and confidence. Tounekti is our only fit left winger, Forrest is an impact sub these days and this is the audition for Tounekti to see if he can be trusted from the start at the weekend. If he doesn’t deliver tonight then I think his Celtic career could be hanging by a thread. Duran needs to start, he’s our main man right now but I’d be hoping we can be comfortable enough in the game to withdraw him around the 60th minute and rest him up with some huge games on the horizon.