Celtic team news vs Hibs: Ange misses 2, predicted XI, Easter Road injuries

By John McGinley

March 18, 2023

Ange Postecoglou won’t have Aaron Mooy or Tomoki Iwata available for today’s match against Hibernian at Celtic Park, he revealed in a pre-match media conference.

Mooy has been feeling soreness over the last couple of weeks and Iwata has strained a muscle in his back at Lennoxtown. The Celtic boss said both could have featured if absolutely necessary but that he won’t select them for today’s match squad.

Elsewhere, Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers are both available and will feature – despite a suggestion from their international camps that they weren’t selected due to injury. Carl Starfelt is also fine after being substituted off against Hearts last week, as is Daizen Maeda – both trained at Lennoxtown this week.

Meanwhile, Hibernian are likely to be missing as many as five players with Martin Boyle, Aiden McGeady and Rocky Bushiri all out for extended periods. The visit to Glasgow is likely to be too soon for Jake Newell and Kyle Magennis, too. However, Jack Doyle-Hayes has returned to contention to feature in Lee Johnson’s match squad.

Celtic Predicted XI vs Hibs

Joe Hart is likely to continue in goals as Postecoglou’s number-one goalkeeper, behind a defensive line consisting of Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Greg Taylor. Yuki Kobayashi is also a contender to feature.

A midfield trio of Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate almost picks itself given the injuries to Mooy and Iwata – with David Turnbull available to feature off the bench in the second half if needed.

That leaves a front three of Jota, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi. Although, the manager may decide to go with Liel Abada and Sead Haksabanovic if he is taking into account Maeda’s travel to Asia on Japan duty over the next couple of weeks.

Despite a few injury niggles in the camp, it will likely be an exceptionally strong starting eleven and bench more than capable of taking care of Hibs with the right focus and performance.

Your predicted XI in full is: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate, Jota, Maeda, Kyogo.