Brendan Rodgers faces £11m Celtic decision as rookie earns rare start in predicted XI vs St Mirren
The real stuff finally gets underway this weekend and Brendan Rodgers faces a couple of dilemmas
Celtic are targeting five-in-a-row
(Image: SNS Group)
Brendan Rodgers might be short of firepower.
But the Celtic boss still faces one or two selection headaches further back the park.
The champions begin their quest for five-in-a-row and a record-breaking 56th top-flight title on Sunday at home to St Mirren.
Paul McStay - one of the greatest Celts of all-time - will make a special appearance before kick-off as he unfurls the league flag.
The Maestro would walk into any Hoops team and Rodgers even admitted: "Paul McStay would probably play in two positions for me. He was amazing.
"When the club spoke to me and told me that there was the possibility of him coming to do the flag day, I went into my boy mode again and… what an amazing icon of the club he is.
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"He was such an icon at such a tough time for Celtic as well, I can't speak highly enough of him as a player, and obviously, the humility he has."
Like one-club man McStay, Callum McGregor has dedicated his career to the Hoops and remains the first name on the team sheet - even at 32.
But who partners the skipper in midfield is up for debate. Rodgers is spoilt for choice, with Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Benji Nygren, Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo all battling it out.
Celtic's Arne Engels
New Bhoy Nygren has hit the ground running in pre-season and already looks like a Matt O'Riley 2.0. The Super Swede has slotted in on the right of a midfield three, with Hatate occupying the other side.
It's a dynamic engine room that has clicked over the summer and that could see £11million man Arne Engels benched for flag day.
The Belgian marked his debut season with 23 goal contributions but faces tough competition - with prolific Nygren likely to be given the nod.
At the back, Cameron Carter-Vickers still looks short on fitness after a minor summer knee op. The USA international has been a rock at Celtic's defence but injuries have taken their toll in recent seasons.
Rodgers is expected to manage his game time carefully, which could open the door for academy graduate Dane Murray to step in. The 22-year-old has impressed behind the scenes and the manager insists he'll have a part to play this term.
Up top, this could be a defining campaign for £9m man Adam Idah as he bids to nail down the No.9 shirt. Shin Yamada offers raw pace and unpredictability, but the Japan cap is still settling in.
Out wide, Player of the Year Daizen Maeda will be unleashed in his preferred left-sided role. And on the opposite flank, fringe man Yang looks set to start as the hunt for Nicolas Kuhn's successor drags on.
Predicted Celtic XI
How Celtic could line up against St Mirren
Schmeichel; Johnston, Murray, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor, Hatate, Nygren; Yang, Idah, Maeda.
Provisional Celtic squad
Goalkeepers
Kasper Schmeichel
Viljami Sinisalo
Ross Doohan
Defenders
Alistair Johnston
Anthony Ralston
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Dane Murray
Liam Scales
Auston Trusty
Hayato Inamura
Kieran Tierney
Midfielders
Callum McGregor
Reo Hatate
Ben Nygren
Luke McCowan
Arne Engels
Paulo Bernardo
Attackers
Adam Idah
Shin Yamada
Daizen Maeda
James Forrest
Yang
Marco Tilio
Johnny Kenny
Callum Osmand
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