Celtic will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce in Dingwall, as they take on Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium in the Scottish Premiership.
Brendan Rodgers will take on a familiar foe in Malky Mackay, as his side will look to extend their lead at the top of the league to eight points, given Rangers’ participation in the League Cup this weekend.
Celtic come into this one off the back of a 2-1 home win against St Mirren, thanks to a late strike from Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 82nd minute. The South Korea international opened his account for the new season and will be hoping for more game time as the weeks progress. Ross County are in decent form too, their last game being a spirited 2-2 draw at Easter Road against Hibernian, when they fought back from two goals down to snatch a point away from home.
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With all of that being said, who will Rodgers choose for Saturday’s match up north? The Celtic Way’s writers have their say…
Ryan McGinlay
After dropping points in their last away excursion against Hibs, Celtic need to get back to winning ways on the road, and what better place to do it than in Dingwall, another happy hunting ground for both the club and their returning manager.
Ross County will be tough opponents for the champions and will look to make their home-court advantage count, especially with the continued absence of the Green Brigade in Celtic’s away support ranks. Mackay is a seasoned veteran, so Celtic and their team should expect another tough day at the office, especially away from home. Speaking of the side, Rodgers has a few decisions to make in a few key areas, and I reckon he will shuffle the pack for this one.
In goals, however, there are no decisions to be made, as Joe Hart will continue in his position between the sticks. The former England international has been a calming presence at the back in recent weeks and will be hoping to keep another clean sheet away from home, though he could do nothing about St Mirren’s headed goal on Wednesday night. It will be a return to the side for Cameron Carter-Vickers, who had a well-earned rest in midweek against Stephen Robinson’s side. He will be partnered by Maik Nawrocki, though it is important to underline that Scales is not being dropped, but rather rested for the big game on Tuesday in Madrid against Atletico. Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor will occupy each side, as Alistair Johnston requires a rest ahead of the aforementioned European game.
In the midfield, Callum McGregor will be joined by Odin Thiago Holm and Matt O’Riley, as the Scandinavian duo should be set loose on the Staggies. A midfield full of precision, passing ability and goals should be the order of the day, which is why those three will start proceedings. Matt O’Riley has not scored a goal (shock) since his stunning effort against Hearts at Tynecastle, though he has assisted twice to both Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull in Europe and domestically respectively. Time for Celtic’s standout player this season to get the shooting boots back on. In the case of Holm, the Norwegian deserves this start, given his sublime assist to Oh in midweek. Here’s hoping he takes his chance from the off and makes that position his own in the coming weeks and months. The sky is the limit for him.
Up front, Oh will get the opportunity from the start, as Kyogo is benched only for emergencies due to the importance of the Champions League. On either side of him, Yang Hyun-jun and Daizen Maeda will operate the wings. In the case of Yang, he was arguably Celtic’s standout player in the second half, contributing a multitude of shots and passes, as well as beating his marker with ease when attacking. There’s certainly a player in there, it's now just about how both he and Rodgers get the best out of him. Maeda will return to the team following a rare bench appearance for the Japan stalwart. Especially away from home, his defensive work will be vital in the team’s overall success on the day.
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Despite being away from home, I expect Celtic to score a couple in this one, thanks to Ross County’s insistence on attacking and going for it at home.
Ryan’s team: Hart; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Taylor; McGregor, Holm; Yang, O’Riley, Maeda; Oh
Aidan Macdonald
After the impact of the substitutes in Wednesday’s victory, as well as the return of more players from injury, Rodgers is likely to make a few changes to the starting XI for the trip to the Highlands.
Hart will remain between the sticks for this fixture as he is still the clear number-one choice at the club.
Johnston will continue at right-back after coming through the midweek visit of St Mirren okay. Carter-Vickers will return to the side after being rested in the last match and will rekindle his defensive partnership with Scales, with Nat Phillips dropping out. Despite a shaky performance against the Buddies, Taylor will remain at left-back.
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McGregor will continue in the middle of the park where he will be joined by O’Riley. Holm will be given an opportunity from the start in the more advanced midfield role after his assist midweek, with Turnbull dropping to the bench.
The front three will consist of Maeda starting on the right-hand side, Kyogo continuing to lead the line through the middle and Yang playing on the left wing. Luis Palma and James Forrest will both drop out.
Aidan’s team: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Holm, Maeda, Kyogo, Yang
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