Ross County could be without 4 players for Celtic Park trip

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Ross County could be without as many as 4 first-team players when they travel down to Celtic Park.

During the Staggies’ 1-1 draw with Aberdeen last weekend [BBC], Connor Randall, Regan Charles-Cook and David Cancola all came off.

Randall, a first-team regular for the Dingwall side [Transfermarkt], is the biggest concern, having picked up what looks to be a relatively serious ankle injury against the Dons [Press & Journal].

They add to a growing list at Ross County. Loanee Jake Vokins is also out, with a fractured metatarsal.

With Mackay replacing John Hughes in the Staggies’ dug-out, the Highlanders are yet to pick up a win this season. Despite spirited performances against the likes of Rangers and Aberdeen, points have been hard to come by.

Celtic, meanwhile, continue to sweat over the fitness of Kyogo Furuhashi. The Japan international picked up some kind of knee knock against China, and was substituted after 51 minutes.

James McCarthy and James Forrest could be back in contention for the Bhoys, who welcomed Jota, Giakoumakis and Carter-Vickers to Lennoxtown last week.

On paper, it’s an ideal time to play Ross County, but Celtic have been here before

Beating Ross County might not have seemed like much of a doubt in prior years. However, after 20-21, nobody in the Celtic support is taking anything for granted.

In that sense, beating the Staggies might be exorcising a demon from the last year. Yes, they have a squad in flux and are yet to win a game this season, but a full Celtic Park will be feeling as if it’s a page turned if the Hoops can see off Mackay’s side.

Along with Livingston, Hibs and Dundee United, these are teams that we have to beat early on.

If we’ve turned a corner, so to speak, it’s the teams that frustrated us last season who should be an absolute focus for Ange Postecoglou.

Granted, it is a good time to play them. But that was true when Ross County turned up at Paradise last November [Press & Journal].

With two weeks to plan, Postecoglou will undoubtedly have a strategy. And the backing of 50,000 or so supporters can only help.

In other news: What’s the plan with these two Academy graduates?