Ange to hand out first appearance of 2023, attacking changes; Celtic Predicted XI vs Hearts

By Hamish Carton

March 8, 2023

Celtic take on Hearts this evening, in the first of two fixtures against the Edinburgh side in the space of four days.

On Saturday we venture to Tynecastle for a tasty Scottish Cup quarter-final. Tonight at Celtic Park, it’s precious league points that are on the line.

Ange Postecoglou‘s side have faced the Jambos twice this season, winning 2-0 at Celtic Park in August and 4-3 in the capital in October.

Both games were fiercely contested and we’re expecting more of the same tonight as we aim to take a step closer to the title.

Ange has so many options to choose from tonight with James Forrest the only notable absentee. With two games in four days, Celtic’s boss has hinted at a few changes.

Here’s the side we’re backing to do the business.

Predicted Celtic team vs Hearts

Joe Hart will play in goal, while we’re tipping one change in the backline.

We think Anthony Ralston may come in for his first appearance of 2023, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Greg Taylor completing a solid looking defence.

In midfield we want to see Matt O’Riley come in, with his pre-match comments seeming to suggest he’s ready to kick-on.

Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate simply have to play at the moment.

In attack, we feel Liel Abada has done enough to earn a shot from the start.

Ange could make further changes in that attacking line with Oh and Sead Haksabanovic looking good in recent weeks. But we think Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota could light it up tonight. The Portuguese star back on the left.

Your Predicted XI in full is: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate, Abada, Kyogo, Jota.

In other news, Celtic fans have been given a good look at the club’s upcoming fourth kit.