Brendan Rodgers makes Kelechi Iheanacho call as Celtic boss names starting XI vs Kilmarnock

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Brendan Rodgers has named his Celtic team to face Kilmarnock this afternoon.

The Celtic manager knows he can create a nine-point gap to Rangers after their defeat to Hearts yesterday afternoon.

Rodgers will be looking to put all talk of Celtic fan protests behind him with a win over Stuart Kettlewell’s side at Rugby Park.

And Rodgers has named his Celtic starting XI for the big Scottish Premiership clash.

• READ MORE: Celtic send ‘important information’ to fans who are travelling to Kilmarnock

Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench as Brendan Rodgers names Celtic starting XI vs Kilmarnock

Here is the team Rodgers has picked as Celtic look to win all three points at Kilmarnock:

• Celtic starting XI: Schmeichel, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Saracchi, McGregor, Hatate, Nygren, Tounekti, Maeda, Balikwisha.
• Substitutes: Schmeichel, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Saracchi, McGregor, Hatate, Nygren, Tounekti, Maeda, Balikwisha.

The Celtic boss gives a debut to new signing Sebastian Tounekti and a first start to Marcelo Saracchi. Colby Donovan gets the nod in place of the injured Anthony Ralston and Kelechi Iheanacho starts on the bench.

Young Donovan gets his first start for the Celtic senior squad and it will be a big test for the 19-year-old in what is a crucial away tie at Kilmarnock.

What happened the last time Celtic went to Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock have been a slight bogey team for Rodgers at Rugby Park since he returned to Celtic in 2023.

With two wins and two defeats, honours are even as Celtic look to beat Kettlewell’s Killie this afternoon.

The last time Celtic played at Rugby Park, Rodgers left Ayrshire with a 2-0 win.

Goals from Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn sealed the win and Celtic fans would take the same scoreline this afternoon to increase the gap to Rangers in the league.