As Celtic prepare for another match without Callum McGregor, they’ll be hoping his absence won’t be felt as it was last week.
Despite winning the eventual shootout, Martin O’Neill’s side were unable to get any control over many periods of the game at Ibrox, instead relying on mighty last-ditch defending.
Said defending was mighty indeed, with Auston Trusty having the performance of his life and all of his defensive partners putting in a shift too.
But if Celtic want to get the best out of their midfield in the absence of their captain, they may have to do things slightly differently.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Celtic’s solution without Callum McGregor?
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored on his Celtic debut against Livingston, but when he made his first start against Hibs, his performance was less encouraging.
When trusted with a start in the Scottish Premiership derby at Ibrox, he was hooked at half-time as one of several players who desperately struggled in the first-half.
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A week later, however, we all watched Luke McCowan struggle equally in a role unfamiliar to him, having been picked to deputise for McGregor in the Scottish Cup.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was used in a more holding role at Besiktas; sometimes as a lone ‘number 6’ and other times in a double pivot.
He was converted to a deeper role by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, moving back from an advanced role just as McGregor did earlier in his career.
Whilst the Englishman is not yet at 100% match fitness, his upper body strength and confidence to drive with the ball make him a candidate to deputise for McGregor.
Aside from McCowan, Paulo Bernardo is also an option for use in the role, doing well in his cameo last weekend. The whole season’s sample from the Portuguese is less encouraging.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s off-field attributes are well-documented, as a winner at the highest level of the game – but his makeup as a player could make him more suitable to take the place of the McGregor than that of Reo Hatate, as he has so far.
Celtic’s run of fixtures before the the SPFL split.
How many points are we picking up from these?
Celtic’s midfield options currently
Arne Engels’ return to training is a major boost for O’Neill, with the team’s form faltering in his absence.
The Belgian’s trio alongside McGregor and Benjamin Nygren had become Celtic’s established first-choice midfield three.
Reo Hatate also seems to be on something of an upturn in form, further justifying Oxlade-Chamberlain’s use in a deeper role, instead of taking the place of the Japan international.
Motherwell’s style of play is no secret. If Celtic’s midfield isn’t brave enough to take the ball on Saturday, the opponents will.
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