Brendan Rodgers will be excited to welcome his group back to Lennoxtown as Celtic put the work in before taking on Heart of Midlothian this Saturday.
Some of the Irishman’s players will be returning from far-flung corners of the world. Meanwhile, others are making shorter journeys back to Glasgow after the international break.
The remainder of individuals within the group, including Callum McGregor, have enjoyed some well-deserved rest ahead of the resumption. Undoubtedly, having some extra recuperation will have done him the world of good.
Despite their poor form this term, Hearts are never an opponent to take lightly. However, Celtic face Slovan Bratislava the following Wednesday in their first instalment of eight Champions League league phase matches, so there is a quick turnaround.
With the need for early points in the new Swiss-style format becoming paramount, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rodgers make one or two changes against Steven Naismith’s men.
The potential ins and outs in Brendan Rodgers’ Hearts line-up
Kicking off, it makes sense to note Celtic players who picked up knocks on international duty, but there will also be time for some other topics to be discussed. Canada withdrew Alistair Johnston after just 25 minutes last week against the United States due to a hamstring problem.
Despite initial fears that he could’ve suffered a serious injury, Jesse Marsch confirmed that the reason for his substitution came down to feeling a little ‘tightness’, so he shouldn’t be a major concern going forward.
Regardless, Rodgers may opt to rest Johnston against Hearts to ensure he makes a full recovery. The Celtic defender has travelled a long way to feature on international duty, which could also be factored in.
Anthony Ralston has featured twice for Scotland over the break and registered an assist against Poland last week. Should the best course of action be to allow Johnston time to be fit for Bratislava, most would have no qualms at his counterpart stepping in.
Greg Taylor and James Forrest pulled out of the camp after being assessed by medics. Could Alex Valle earn his Celtic debut at left-back if the same thought process mentioned above is applied?
The long haul journey balancing act alongside full home debuts
Following the theme of Johnston, Celtic pair Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate also face long journeys back to Glasgow after taking on Bahrain tonight.
Given the club’s contingent that has done this regularly over the last few years, protocols will be in place to ensure they return ready to thrive under Rodgers. Conversely, the Bratislava clash looming in the distance could influence the Irishman’s thinking when picking his line-up.
Celtic want to kick off their Champions League campaign victorious and will rely on their new signings to carry them over the line. Arne Engels and Luke McCowan came off the bench against Rangers earlier this month, though they will be angling for a place from the start, as is Auston Trusty.
The best way of equipping them for football in Europe’s premier competition would be to offer them a chance to shine come Saturday. Rodgers has some key decisions to make about his team to face Hearts.
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