Celtic travel to Easter Road today to take on Hibernian in their second match of the Scottish Premiership season.
After an impressive showing last week at home to Kilmarnock, the Bhoys will be keen to demonstrate they can find consistency in the early stages of the campaign with another confident display today.
The only question mark regarding squad fitness this week has been Daizen Maeda, who wasn’t spotted in Celtic training pictures in the build-up to the capital trip as he recovers from a knee injury sustained vs Chelsea in pre-season.
However, Brendan Rodgers declared he was ‘okay’ at his media conference on Friday, so there’s hope he will make the bench, at least.
Elsewhere the manager has a strong squad to choose from for this one and will be available to field a team more than capable of getting the job done.
Potential Celtic team vs Hibs
Kasper Schmeichel will continue in goal. His distribution was impressive last week and he might be busier in his goal this afternoon, too. It’ll be a good test for him as he continues to ramp up relationships with his defensive line.
That four-man defence is unlikely to change from last week with Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor all available as starters.
In midfield, there’s been a lot of talk about interest in Matt O’Riley but the smart money is on him starting regardless because of the professionalism and dedication he has shown through all this noise.
Callum McGregor, recently retired from international football, and Reo Hatate will complete a strong midfield trio.
In attack, there is a chance we see Daizen Maeda back but it’s more likely no risks are taken with the knee knock he received and that he features as a substitute.
That leaves the bright Nicolas Kuhn, James Forrest and Kyogo Furuhashi as the men principally tasked with getting the goals at Easter Road.
Your Predicted XI in full is: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate, Forrest, Kuhn, Kyogo.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
