Brendan Rodgers Told to Bench Struggling Duo

Pundit and brother of John McGinn, Stephen McGinn, has called on Brendan Rodgers to give two Celtic stars their chance against Kilmarnock on Saturday at Celtic Park.

With Celtic losing 1-0 against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park last time out, McGinn believes that two players who have struggled for game time in 2025 due to injuries should be given an opportunity to start and show why Celtic have missed them so much in the last four months.

Nicolas Kuhn and Arne Engels were two players who struggled in Perth, and with it not being the first time they have failed to impress in recent months, it has led to McGinn suggesting who should replace them on Saturday.

He said: (Go Radio Football Show), “I would put Bernardo back in for Engels for Saturday. Bernardo would bring the energy and spark that Brendan is looking for. He has a natural enthusiasm for the game.

“I would be Kuhn out. I think Brendan Rodgers might take Kuhn out and bring Idah in, with Jota on the right. I think that’s what he might do.

“I would put James Forrest straight back in. I would just go Forrest. I would keep Maeda through the middle. I would go Jota off the left. I think Jota is better off the left. Adam Idah is a better sub when he comes on. He looks fresher and sharper.”

McGinn’s suggestion is one that a lot of people will agree with, bringing Forrest and Bernardo back into the starting XI. However, interestingly, he does forget Maik Nawrocki, who a lot of the supporters will be desperate to see replace Auston Trusty after the U.S. defender’s poor performance on Sunday.

Yang Hyun-jun and Luke McCowan will also be in contention to feature, and despite having options, the question is: who will step up, as that was clearly the problem against St Johnstone.

For Brendan Rodgers, that is the dilemma: who to start on Saturday? But it’s clear that Engels and Kuhn do need to be benched for a period of time, as keeping them in the starting XI despite failing to hit the mark recently is not working.