Rodgers rotates as Bernardo & Valle start - Predicted XIs

Three days on from their 1-1 Champions League draw versus Club Brugge, the champions will look to go five and 14 points clear of Aberdeen and Rangers respectively, who both play on Sunday this weekend.

Their opponents Ross County sit eighth in the table, having won last time out versus Motherwell in Dingwall last weekend. Managed by Rodgers’ former player Don Cowie, the Highland side will be hoping to cause an upset on Saturday, having been a few minutes away from doing so last time against Celtic – before Nicolas Kuhn came along!

After a gruelling game in Europe just three days prior, there may be scope to shake the team up for this one by way of rotation, as the games come thick and fast for the manager and his players. The question is: Who will start versus the Staggies on Saturday afternoon?

With that in mind, The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each give their predicted line-ups…

Ryan McGinlay

Scoreboard pressure. That’s what’s at stake for Celtic against Ross County on Saturday afternoon.

Though the club sits in an enviable position at the summit of the Scottish Premiership table, they’re only as good as their next game in this funny old sport. Indeed, it is time for Celtic to pull away domestically and make sure that this league becomes a formality this season. With a big game against Aberdeen on Wednesday night up at Pittodrie, I reckon that Rodgers will shuffle the pack for this contest, though not too much.

In goals, Kasper Schmeichel will remain, supported by Alistair Johnston as usual at right-back. Though I believe that Cameron-Carter-Vickers’ game-time must be restricted for his long-term future at the club, he can be taken off in the second half, therefore he and Auston Trusty will remain at the heart of defence, though there will be a change at left-back. Greg Taylor will be replaced by Alex Valle, who took his chance off the bench on Wednesday night versus Club Brugge. An assist just one minute after entering the field of play – he should start this one as a reward.

The midfield is where the majority of focus has been on over the past few days – and with good reason. The captain will remain in the side, though Arne Engels must be rotated – despite his manager coming to his defence in Friday’s pre-match press conference. It is time for Paulo Bernardo to step up and step into the starting line-up, supported further by Reo Hatate in the number 10 position. As much as I would like to include Luke McCowan in this side, the fact that he has not played in a few weeks makes his inclusion a slight risk.

Up front, Adam Idah will lead the line in place of Kyogo Furuhashi, who worked hard to no avail on Wednesday night. With Aberdeen next Wednesday, it would be wise to get Idah up to speed by means of a start versus Ross County. The wingers will not change, as Daizen Maeda and Kuhn will play on the left and right respectively for Rodgers’ side.

Celtic will win this game healthily and comprehensively, putting all of the pressure on Aberdeen and Rangers 24 hours or so later.

Ryan’s team: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Valle; McGregor, Bernardo, Hatate; Kuhn, Idah, Maeda

Tony Haggerty

Rotation will be the name of the game for Rodgers when Ross County visits Glasgow's east end this weekend.

Now is the time for Rodgers to freshen his starting XI up from the rigours of the 1-1 Champions League draw against Belgian champions Club Brugge in midweek. The men in green and white will have a chance to turn the screw once again and apply 'scoreboard pressure' on their rivals at the top end of the table.

The defending champions could move five points ahead of Aberdeen and 14 in front of Rangers who are both in action on Sunday. For that reason alone, Celtic will want to take full advantage of the opportunity being presented to them.

Schmeichel will be in between the sticks and there will be two changes to the back four who started against the Belgians. Johnston will be deployed at right-back but Scales will come into the side to replace Carter-Vickers whose game time will continue to be managed. The Irishman will be alongside Trusty whose reputation as a bona fide Celtic player is growing game-by-game. Spaniard Valle will get the nod over Taylor at left-back after his very impressive cameo against Club Brugge where he set up Maeda for the equaliser within moments of taking to the field.

In the engine room, there will also be two changes with Engels and Hatate being rotated in favour of Bernardo and McCowan respectively. Both players have been champing at the bit for a start, and this match is ripe for Rodgers to unleash both against the Staggies. The Portuguese under-21 captain has been the very definition of an impact player and so consistently that it is harder for his boss to not play him from the beginning of this one. McCowan also bagged a goal against Motherwell on his last start at Fir Park and he will relish the opportunity to repeat the dose against Cowie's charges. The duo be joined in the midfield as always by inspirational skipper McGregor. 

There will also be one change in attack with Republic of Ireland striker Idah replacing Kyogo in the number nine role for this encounter. Idah bagged a fine brace at Tynecastle in the 4-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Hearts last weekend and he looked bright when he came on as a substitute to replace the Japanese talisman against Brugge. His reward will be to lead the line against County. Japanese wideman Maeda fresh from his goalscoring exploits against Brugge will be deployed on the left wing and Kuhn who scored a late winner against the Highlanders in the 2-1 league success back in October will try to add to his incredible 22 goal contributions already this season (11 goals and 11 assists). The German winger's campaign just seems to go from strength to strength.

Celtic to win by a handsome four-goal margin at least.

Tony's team: Schmeichel, Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; Bernardo, McGregor; McCowan, Maeda, Idah, Kuhn.