Match

Celtic team news confirmed vs St Johnstone as Callum McGregor sits out while one star returns

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Celtic swept Motherwell aside in what was a comfortable Boxing Day display.

Now, in front of their home crowd again, Brendan Rodgers‘ troops will be looking to do the same to St Johnstone to head into the New Year on a real high.

There were a handful of changes made by the manager at Parkhead the day after Christmas but he has gone strong again today.

Midfield is always a contentious position for the Hoops considering how strong the squad is in that position and the form in which their top stars are performing.

It’s a spot for Arne Engels alongside Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo this afternoon. Captain Callum McGregor is on the bench.

Adam Idah started vs the Steelmen but Kyogo is back up front.

Alistair Johnston is back from injury and starts for Celtic

Alistair Johnston also returns to the fold having come through an injury issue which sees Anthony Ralston return to the sidelines in a rotation at the back.

Yang also keeps his spot and Nicolas Kuhn starts so there is a very rare rest for Daizen Maeda who is on the bench and may well feature at some stage.

Celts battered Motherwell 4-0 in their most recent outing and hold a comfortable 12 point lead over rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

How many changes Celtic have made to their starting XI

Manager Rodgers recently explained why he made changes vs Dundee United before ‘Well and the boss will surely be asked to reveal why McGregor has been rotated.

From the 4-0 victory there are five changes.

Alex Valle, Johnston, Hatate, Kyogo and Kuhn all start in what remains a similarly strong starting XI from the gaffer.

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