Celtic team vs St Mirren confirmed: 4 changes, defence experiment, TV details, instant reaction

By John McGinley

May 20, 2023

Manager Ange Postecoglou has named his Celtic team vs St Mirren for today’s Scottish Premiership encounter at Celtic Park.

The full match squad is as follows:

Starting XI – Hart, Ralston, Starfelt, Iwata, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley, Jota, Maeda, Kyogo.

Substitutes – Bain, Haksabanovic, Abada, Turnbull, Kobayashi, Oh, Bernabei, Forrest, Summers.

The champions host the Europe-chasing Buddies today knowing that the hard work in the league has already been completed. However, getting back to winning ways would be nice in the wake of last week’s disappointing derby defeat.

The manager has made four changes from the team that lost at Ibrox with Daizen Maeda, Tomoki Iwata, Kyogo Furuhashi and Greg Taylor all coming back into the line-up.

Iwata appears to be playing at centre-back alongside Carl Starfelt, a position where he has featured extensively back in his homeland previously. Elsewhere, James Forrest makes the bench alongside youth option Ben Summers.

Broadcast details

Today’s match is not officially being shown within the UK & Ireland. None of this afternoon’s Scottish Premiership fixtures are on Sky Sports, who will show Hibernian’s clash vs Rangers tomorrow.

Celtic TV will be providing live coverage to overseas subscribers outside of the UK & Ireland. There are no other worldwide broadcasters showing the fixture.

BBC Radio Scotland will, however, be providing live audio commentary across their platforms on the air and online.

Instant verdict on Celtic team vs St Mirren

There isn’t anything to gripe with in today’s team. It’s about as strong an eleven as can be fielded and there will be plenty of intrigue with regards to Iwata’s diversion away from the midfield role.

It’s worth noting that this is far from an emergency call from Postecoglou. The manager will be well aware of his form as a defender in Japan and noted his versatility when he signed. Today is as good a day as any to experiment with him here at Celtic, with little on the line this afternoon.

The Bhoys have more than enough firepower at the other end to get back to winning ways and build confidently towards the Scottish Cup Final. Let’s get it done!

In other news, Celtic set to wear special home kit vs St Mirren today.