Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi

Predicted Celtic starting XI offers fans what they crave as Scales and Kyogo shift in new look line-up

The champions can heap the pressure on rivals Rangers and go 11 clear if the beat St Johnstone,

by · Daily Record

The joke in Glasgow is going three games without a win constitutes a crisis but Brendan Rodgers will be keenly aware how important three points are for Celtic.

The champions can heap the pressure on rivals Rangers and go 11 clear if the beat St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park before Philippe Clement's side take on St Mirren at Ibrox in the 3.00pm kick-off. Punters were left vexed as their winless streak in the Champions League continued against Lazio and a victory is needed domestically after the 1-1 draw with Motherwell.

Luis Palma returns for Celtic after missing the midweek defeat by Lazio through suspension. Liel Abada (thigh), Reo Hatate (hamstring) and Daizen Maeda (knee) are still on the sidelines. St Johnstone Andy Considine is a doubt with an issue from last week against Hearts. Nicky Clark, Cammy MacPherson and Drey Wright remain out.

And punters believe the time could be now for Liam Scales to get a chance at left-back and pave the way for returning £4.3m summer signing Maik Nawrocki to start against the Saints. It's a big ask for the Pole who has been out since August but game time is on his agenda as he aims to build upon a promising start in green and white. Rodgers has also linked Oh and Kyogo in recent weeks and Craig Levein's low block may well offer the perfect chance to go two in attack from the start.

Predicted Celtic XI

Provisional Celtic squad

Goalkeepers

  • Joe Hart
  • Benjamin Siegrist
  • Scott Bain

Defenders

  • Alexandro Bernabei
  • Gustaf Lagerbielke
  • Alistair Johnston
  • Liam Scales
  • Nat Phillips
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers
  • Anthony Ralston
  • Greg Taylor
  • Maik Nawrocki

Midfielders

  • Tomoki Iwata
  • Matt O’Riley
  • Callum McGregor
  • David Turnbull
  • Odin Holm
  • Kwon Hyeok-kyu
  • Paulo Bernardo

Forwards

  • Luis Palma
  • Hyeongyu Oh
  • Kyogo Furuhashi
  • Yang Hyun-jun
  • James Forrest

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