Confirmed Celtic starting XI: No Boyata but Edouard and McGregor return

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One look at the confirmed starting XI for today’s clash with Dundee and the fans will have some questions.

The Hoops have a glorious chance to go 10 points clear at the top of the Premiership. A victory at Dens Park would tick off yet another contest in the title run-in, and the Hoops would be down to eight matches remaining.

Last week, we were all frustrated as Celtic were held to a 0-0 draw by Aberdeen. The Parkhead draw was our first chance to go 10 clear, and we spurned it. This time around, it would be criminal if we did the same in Dundee.

So here’s the confirmation of the Hoops team that Neil Lennon has chosen to face the Dee.

Scott Bain, as expected, starts in goal. The former Dundee stopper will be looking to secure victory in his first trip to Dens Park as an opposition goalkeeper.

One of the biggest questions, however, comes at the back. There’s no Dedryck Boyata in the squad today, and with an international trip and Rangers looming, that’s a concern and is the biggest shock of the day. Instead, Mikael Lustig looks like partnering Kristoffer Ajer, with Jeremy Toljan and Kieran Tierney as the wing-backs. Filip Benkovic also returns to the bench.

Scott Brown and Nir Bitton didn’t work against Aberdeen. Fortunately, Callum McGregor has managed to overcome his injury, and makes an immediate return against Jim McIntyre’s side. A bold decision from Lennon, but it’s clear the interim manager is looking to improve on the “pedestrian” performance put in last Saturday.

James Forrest starts down the right in, once again, predictable fashion. Scott Sinclair was hooked at half-time against the Dons but starts once more today too. Mikey Johnston, meanwhile, comes in after featuring in a promising cameo against Aberdeen. It looks as though he may occupy the number 10 role.

And, in perhaps the best news of the afternoon – Odsonne Edouard starts up top. The Frenchman is, by far, the club’s best striker, and is also the top scorer at Celtic this season with 17 goals.

Edouard had only received one start in three games under Lennon before today. Is today’s start a sign that Burke’s time playing up front is over? That’s something to keep an eye on going forward.

But, as for today’s team, it should be more than enough to see off relegation-threatened Dundee. Three points, and that eighth consecutive title will be in clear sight.