Celtic return to Romania on Thursday to face Cluj in the final Europa League group stage match. With the Hoops having already qualified for the last 32 of the tournament and won Group E of the Europa League, the situation will be far more relaxed for Celtic than when they last played Cluj away from home.
That was in a Champions League third round qualifier on the 7th of August, and the Hoops obtained a creditable 1-1 draw.
We will not comment on the second leg, but instead look at three major changes that have happened to the Celtic team since that match.
Neil Lennon’s team is in much better shape.
Fraser Forster has replaced Scott Bain
Scott Bain was in goals for Celtic for the match in Romania, and it seemed that he was in pole position to continue as the Hoops number goalkeeper.
However, a mistake in the second leg against Cluj and a thumb injury ended that idea.
Later in August, Fraser Forster returned to the club on loan, the Hoops haven’t looked back when it comes to the goalkeeping position.
As for Bain, he is currently the third-choice goalkeeper at the club behind Forster and Craig Gordon.
Jullien and Ajer have forged a formidable partnership
Jozo Simunovic started for Celtic against Cluj in Romania, but that is one of the few appearances he has made for the Hoops this season. He has played for the Hoops only seven times this season, as he has been recovering from a knee operation.
During that time, he has seen the duo of Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer establish themselves as Celtic’s first-choice centre-backs.
When he returns to action after the winter break, Simunovic will have a hard time getting back into the Hoops side.
The emergence of Jeremie Frimpong
One of the major changes concerns a player who hasn’t even played in Europe yet – Jeremie Frimpong. The Hoops starlet has become the number one choice at right-back in recent months, despite being ineligible for the Europa League.
Hatem Abd Elhamed played right-back for the Hoops in Cluj but there is no guarantee that he will be in that position when the Hoops return to Europe after Christmas.
That is due to the emergence of Frimpong, who has been superb since breaking through into the first-team.
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