Following on from a now rare win on Tuesday evening away to manager-less Kilmarnock, Celtic look to take on a rejuvenated Motherwell at Celtic park this afternoon for a 3pm kick off.
A match like no other that’ll set in stone just what direction Neil Lennon will take the team in as the summer rebuild gets underway. The attention will be set on just who is included and who is left out.
During the week, many fan outlets for the club on social media asked who should we be building a team around come 2021/22. The results were hardly shocking, with many wanting a team built around the midfield duo of Soro and Turnbull, with other names such as Welsh, Jullien and Ajeti featuring.
Don’t be expecting to see a lack of Ajer or Edouard any time soon. Despite an increased probability that both won’t be contracted to the club come next season, I would be very surprised if any manager was to leave them out.
You also have to be careful when it comes to many of the club’s loanee players at the current moment. The constant inclusion of Duffy is a big head scratcher. The only answer must be of a clause in the players contract to play a certain number of games. We haven’t seen that occur with the likes of Laxalt and Elyounoussi who both seem to be easily dropped when needed. This leaves just a handful of positions left for all eyes to be on as to just who Neil trusts taking forward.
It would appear from Neil’s team selection today that he’s in agreement with the fans…somewhat…
Turnbull, Welsh and Ajeti all get call ups after impressing during the week from their performances. Brown keeps his place too. Kenny, from the outlook seems to be a Lennon signing, he too starts consecutive games since signing on Monday.
What may go unnoticed is the continued strengthening, week on week, of Celtic’s bench. As players such as Johnston, Henderson, and Forrest come back into the fold it will be very interesting to see just who Neil turns on to for his routine 75 minute sub.
The team selection reads:
Bain
Kenny
Ajer
Welsh
Taylor
Brown
McGregor
Turnbull
Rogic
Edouard
Ajeti
It will perhaps be Lennon’s favoured 4-1-2-1-2 diamond of recent games, who plays where in the midfield is still left somewhat to be desired, it is likely it will be Brown holding with McGregor and Turnbull creating somewhat of a width either side and Tom “the gazelle” Rogic running head first behind the two strikers.
The lack of Soro is a big head scratcher as it seems the Ivorian has not put a foot wrong in a Celtic jersey. Having said this, Brown more than stepped up to the plate on Tuesday.
The jury is still out on just who is the gaffer’s chosen one for going between the sticks…
Aside from the missing Soro, this is arguably Celtic’s best ten outfield players to choose from based on current form.
It’s a hard game to predict giving Motherwell seem on a decent run under Graham Alexander. A Celtic win is still on the cards on the other hand given Lennon seems to have gotten the outfield selection almost spot on, as it should be enough to do the job.
Prediction:
Celtic 2-0 Motherwell
