Celtic will look to build on their late heroics at Motherwell last week by securing another three points at home to Dundee as they continue to chase down Rangers.
With 11 Scottish Premiership matches left to play, Brendan Rodgers knows his side can’t afford to slip up if they are serious about claiming a third successive league title.
The return of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston at Fir Park has signified that the Irishman now has more variety to choose from in his squad than in previous weeks.
Tony Docherty’s Dundee travel to Glasgow in an inconsistent vein of form, having won two and drawn three of their last five matches.
Nevertheless, their first campaign back in the top flight has been an impressive one, and they could tighten their grip on a top-six place with a surprise victory at Parkhead.
Without further ado, 67 Hail Hail takes a look at how Celtic may line up as Rodgers aims to record consecutive victories.
Potential Celtic team vs Dundee
Rodgers will keep the more familiar shape he reverted to against Motherwell after a brief period of fielding a two-man attack.
Veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart will make his first appearance between the sticks at Parkhead since choosing to retire at the end of the season; meanwhile, Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor will comprise three of the back four.
Cameron Carter-Vickers makes up the other defensive choice, as we believe the United States international is set to replace Maik Nawrocki amid the latter’s recent injury.
Tomoki Iwata did enough in the engine room against the Steelmen to earn a second league start since December and will operate in front of the back four, providing a base for Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley to work their magic.
Intriguingly, some fans made their feelings known when Iwata was substituted last Sunday, which is understandable, seeing as he won 100% of his tackles and completed 11 defensive actions.
On the wings, Hyunjun Yang’s positivity from the bench in the second half of the affair signifies that the South Korean international will come in on the right flank.
Daizen Maeda will pip Luis Palma to a start on the other side due to his relentless work rate, though there is still one big decision left to come.
Adam Idah will be preferred to Kyogo Furuhashi in the lone striker role following his starring role in North Lanarkshire, which has taken the Republic of Ireland international’s tally to four goals in four Scottish Premiership encounters [Transfermarkt].
Japan international Furuhashi, Paulo Bernardo, Palma, Hyeongyu Oh and Nicolas Kuhn are handy options for Celtic to change the game up from the bench if needed.
On the other hand, Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston offer reliable defensive support in case we need to see this one out.
Predicted Celtic XI vs Dundee; Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, Iwata, McGregor, O’Riley, Yang, Maeda, Kyogo.
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