Celtic will hope to avoid repeat of 2007 result vs Newcastle United that saw goalkeeper play outfield

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Celtic face Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers will lead his side against the Premier League outfit and current Carabao Cup holders for the chance to lift the adidas Trophy.

It will be Celtic’s first game of the 2025/26 season at Parkhead after four friendly games so far, yielding three victories and one loss.

This will only be the third time ever that Celtic have faced Newcastle, all of which have been friendly or testimonial matches.

The last time the two sides met was in the summer of 2007, with Gordon Strachan preparing for his third season in charge after winning the SPL title for a second consecutive year.

Celtic fans travelled in big numbers to St James’ Park and sang their hearts out all game. However, they certainly had nothing to shout about as far as the result was concerned.

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Newcastle United thumped Celtic 4-1 at St James’ Park

Yes, Newcastle took Celtic to the cleaners on that July 26 evening. The Hoops were extremely fragile at the back as the hosts raced into a 3-0 half-time lead.

Obafemi Martins, Albert Luque and James Milner all got on the scoresheet for the Magpies, with a young Scott Brown scoring a header for Celtic.

Brown was named Celtic’s man of the match for his impressive display in midfield, having only just signed from Hibs a couple of months prior.

Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper played outfield

There was a totally bizarre moment in this game when Newcastle were forced into making an unlikely substitute in the second-half.

They had used all of their outfield subs when Nicky Butt had to depart the field injured. It meant he could only be replaced by goalkeeper Steve Harper.

So Harper flung on the home kit and played outfield for the remainder of the match, and he actually grabbed an assist for Milner’s goal!

Slightly embarrassing for the Hoops.

Celtic’s starting XI and subs

Starting XI

• Boruc (M. Brown 46), Caddis (Jarosik 77), Kennedy, McManus, Naylor; Hartley, S. Brown, Donati, McGeady; Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski (Miller 66)

Unused substitutes

• Balde, Riordan, Gravesen, Pressley, McDonald, Killen, Irvine