St Mirren 'won't fear' Celtic
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Daily Record
33 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Brendan Rodgers faces £11m Celtic decision as rookie earns rare start in predicted XI vs St Mirren
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. Article continues below "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 Article continues below Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
I'm living the dream as a Celtic player but meeting Paul McStay will leave me lost for words
The Maestro makes his return to Parkhead on Sunday as he unfurls the 55th league flag Fan Bhoy Luke McCowan fears he will be struck dumb by the presence of The Maestro at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon. The midfielder just hopes the champions' football will do the talking as they look to get another season off on the right note in front of one of their greatest ever players. Parkhead will rise to welcome Paul McStay as he makes a rare return to the east end of Glasgow to hoist the league flag after Brendan Rodgers' side clinched their 55th title back in May. The man dubbed The Maestro for his mastery of the ball, won three of those championships among eight honours in 16 years at the club in which he played 683 times to sit third in the club's all time record appearances charts. The one-club hero was voted into the midfield of the club's greatest ever XI. And while fellow midfielder McCowan is too young to have seen McStay strut his stuff for his boyhood heroes in the flesh, he knows his history. That's why he reckons Rodgers' side will use the 60-year-old's presence to inspire them to a flying start against St Mirren. He said: 'It will mean a great deal, it really will. Paul retired shortly before I was born but, of course, I know all about him. 'He is a Celtic legend, a one-club man who made nearly 700 appearances over 16 years and won 76 caps for Scotland. 'When the fans voted for the Greatest Ever Celtic side, he was picked to play in centre midfield – that tells you everything you need to know about him. 'He was in there alongside the likes of Henrik Larsson, Kenny Dalglish, Jinky Johnstone, Billy McNeill and Bobby Lennox. What a team that would have been! 'Paul is one of those guys who if you told me when I was a kid that I might get the chance to meet one day, I would have been so happy. 'Hopefully I will get that chance. I don't know what I will say to him, right enough. With a bit of luck something will come to me! 'It will be a pleasure, though, I am sure of that, and I think he is a great choice to unfurl the flag. He'll get a tremendous reception from the fans and if he can help inspire us to get off to a flying start then so much the better.' Two years ago this week, McCowan was running out for a Championship flag day at Dens Park as Dundee marked their return to the top flight with a 1-1 draw against Motherwell. His standout performances in Dark Blue meant that 12 months on he was making a £1million switch to Parkhead where he finished the Premiership season with trophy day celebrations after a 1-1 draw at home to St Mirren. Coincidentally, it's the exact same fixture against Stephen Robinson's side that gets the campaign underway after the flag is raised today. And McCowan said: 'It will be a great day, for myself and for all the guys. I came here hoping to help the club win the big prizes and the title win is a proud achievement. 'The same applies to the Championship win with Dundee but obviously you want to progress your career as much as you can. 'At the same time, we know we have a job because we want to start this league campaign off with a good performance. 'It is funny to be starting with the same league game we finished off with. It feels like it was only a fortnight ago we were running out to play them. 'We weren't at our best that day. James Forrest bailed us out with a late goal, which got us a draw and made everyone happy because it continued his record of scoring every season. 'For this we'll look to start with a win, to get ourselves going and set a marker for what is to come.' Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is set to become Rodgers' eighth summer signing but the manager has made it clear he wants more if the Hoops are to continue progressing. How many of those new faces get the nod to start this afternoon remains to be seen. But one who is almost certain to be in the line-up is Kieran Tierney. And McCowan admits the 28-year-old's displays in training have shown he's lost none of the ability which made him a hero first time round. He said: 'KT was a top, top Celtic player before he went down south and now that he has come back up the road, he has slotted right in again. 'All the qualities that made him a success are there for everyone to see. He is a great player. 'The new signings are doing well, getting used to the new environment, the playing style and their new teammates. Obviously, there is a difference between training, pre-season friendlies and the competitive stuff. 'Like the rest of us they are really looking forward to the season proper getting underway. 'I've been trying to help them settle in where I can, just as all the lads have been doing to be fair. 'It is not the easiest time for footballers, right after you moved, so you want to do what you can to make them feel at home at the club. 'If you looked at a picture of me last year and one today there are probably fewer wrinkles on my face! The whole process is quite taxing. "It's not great when everyone is speculating about your future and you don't know where you are going to be playing and what your contract situation is going to be. Happily, I am not in that position!' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Sunday's briefing: Eddie Howe frustrated by Isak saga as Wilson joins Hammers
Speculation over the future of Alexander Isak at Newcastle rumbles on, while West Ham have signed former Magpies striker Callum Wilson. In Scotland, the William Hill Premiership is under way. Howe frustrated by Isak saga Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has admitted the situation surrounding unsettled striker Alexander Isak is 'far from ideal'. The Magpies rejected a £110million bid for the Sweden international on Friday from Liverpool, who recently beat them to the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt frontman Hugo Ekitike. The 25-year-old did not travel to Asia for Newcastle's pre-season tour due to what the club called a 'minor thigh injury', only for talk of his unhappiness to emerge. Howe said: 'I don't really know what is going to happen next. The situation is far from ideal and it is quite complex.' Newcastle, meanwhile, have signed Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on a season-long loan with an option to buy and reportedly made a £65.4m bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Wilson joins Hammers West Ham have signed Callum Wilson on a one-year contract following his release by Newcastle. The 33-year-old former Bournemouth striker scored 49 goals in 130 appearances in five years for the Magpies. Wilson said: 'I'm excited to be joining a massive football club like West Ham.' Holloway angered by fan behaviour Swindon boss Ian Holloway said he was 'absolutely disgusted' after a fan allegedly threw part of a seat at rival goalkeeper Myles Roberts in a tense 2-1 defeat at 10-man Walsall. The flashpoint occurred in stoppage time, shortly after Connor Barrett scored what proved the winner for the 10-man Saddlers in the Sky Bet League Two opener. Holloway added: 'Whoever you are, you should be ashamed of yourself. I am going to hunt you down and find you.' Opening day frustration for Rangers Rangers slipped at the starting line of their William Hill Premiership campaign as Motherwell hit back for a 1-1 draw at Fir Park. Gers skipper James Tavernier headed in from a corner in the 14th minute but Russell Martin's side never found any rhythm and Emmanuel Longelo drove in an equaliser three minutes from time. Newly-promoted Livingston came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Kilmarnock, who paid a heavy price for the sending-off of George Stanger. What's on today? Scottish champions Celtic begin their bid for a 14th title in 15 seasons as they host St Mirren. There are two other games in the SPL with promoted Falkirk taking on Dundee United and Dundee facing Hibernian.
