For any SPFL side, if you were playing Celtic, you’d want your full compliment of players available. Your best players in the starting XI, in good form and fitness.
For Aberdeen, as they head to Celtic Park, that’s absolutely not the case. Stephen Glass, already under some pressure, has considerable injuries and suspensions to attend to with tomorrow’s game looming large.
Calvin Ramsay, Aberdeen’s stand-out performer this season, remains out injured. Though despite Glass’ comments in the past, he’s not being linked with any moves to the Premier League this week.
Scotland defender Declan Gallagher, once linked with a move to Celtic, is still out with a hamstring injury [Press and Journal]. Mikey Devlin and Andy Considine, two long-term absentees, are not expected to return miraculously by tomorrow.
Calvin Ramsay’s left-sided counterpart Jack Mackenzie could be in contention. So too David Bates, with both facing late assessments ahead of tomorrow [Press and Journal].
Someone who’ll definitely be out for Celtic v Aberdeen is Funso Ojo. In a ridiculous example of by-the-book discipline, the midfielder was red carded for reacting to a physical altercation with a supporter. Manager Glass has also been reprimanded for his response, but a touchline ban won’t affect him until after tomorrow.
It’s quite a bare-bones look for the Dons tomorrow, then. Scott Brown is likely to start at centre-back, with Aberdeen bringing a less than optimal squad to Celtic Park.
No room for complacency despite Aberdeen bringing threadbare squad to Celtic Park
This, of course, doesn’t change Ange Postecoglou’s remit one iota.
If anything, there’s more pressure on the Celtic manager, with Aberdeen having all these injuries. It means people will expect a Celtic win. Especially the media, who’ll be on Postecoglou’s case if three points aren’t secured tomorrow.
Sure, we won the last game in their backyard, sneaking three points away from Pittodrie. But that doesn’t count for anything tomorrow. Ange Postecoglou has injury concerns to contend with himself, after all.
On paper, Celtic have the far superior squad compared to Aberdeen. That, and a disappointment on Thursday to get out of the system before embarking on an intense winter schedule.
We have enough examples of hard Celtic games against Aberdeen over the last few years. In truth, they’ve been our main rivals since 2012.
Nobody should be taking anything for granted. But it’s certainly a weaker side that Stephen Glass will have at his disposal tomorrow.
Read more: The great way Ange Postecoglou wants to pay tribute to Celtic icon Bertie Auld
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