Martin O’Neill’s Celtic starting XI against Motherwell tonight will be one of the most searched team selections of the season.
The Hoops head to Fir Park for a massive Scottish Premiership clash knowing victory would take the title race to the final day against Hearts at Celtic Park. With Celtic one point behind Hearts, and only two league games remaining, there is no room left for error.
The Celtic team news tonight should not contain too many surprises. In fact, most of the predicted Celtic lineup against Motherwell almost picks itself.
Our predicted Celtic starting XI vs Motherwell is:
Sinisalo, Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Benji Nygren, Yang, Tounekti, Daizen Maeda.
The biggest decision for O’Neill comes in the wide areas.
Daizen Maeda is surely a stick-on to start through the middle. The Japanese forward has been in outstanding form, scoring six goals in his last four games, and Celtic need his pace, pressure and finishing instinct from the first whistle at Fir Park.
With Kelechi Iheanacho available to come on later in the game, O’Neill has no real reason to move Maeda away from the central role that has been working so well.
Yang also looks likely to start on one flank, leaving the other wing position as the main Celtic team selection debate ahead of kick-off.
Tounekti feels the most likely option. There is a fair argument that he is better when coming off the bench, especially when matches start to stretch and full-backs tire. But Celtic do not have a long list of natural winger options right now, and Luke McCowan struggled in that role during Sunday’s Glasgow derby win over Rangers.
McCowan recovered well enough to play a part in Celtic’s equaliser, but the opening goal exposed the issue with using him in that wide position. He has done some of his best work for Celtic as a second-half option, playing between the lines rather than being asked to start wide in a high-pressure game.
That may push O’Neill towards Tounekti from the start, with James Forrest held back as a 60 or 70-minute option if Celtic need fresh legs, experience or a different rhythm.
To be honest, Forrest starting and Tounekti coming on later would not be outrageous either. The winger situation is the one genuine conundrum in an otherwise fairly settled Celtic predicted XI.
Elsewhere, the team should be straightforward.
Viljami Sinisalo is expected to continue in goal, with Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney forming the back four.
Johnston’s return from injury has brought real energy and aggression back to the right side of Celtic’s team, while Tierney’s presence on the left gives O’Neill experience and quality in a fixture that will demand both.
In midfield, Callum McGregor will captain the side and anchor the team. Arne Engels has also given Celtic a lift since coming back into the side, adding legs and quality in a period where the Hoops badly needed it.
Benji Nygren should complete the midfield three, giving Celtic another player capable of carrying a goal threat into the final third.
Motherwell will not make this easy. They have already had a say in the title race by taking points from Hearts, and Fir Park is rarely a comfortable venue when the pressure is on.
But Celtic know exactly what is required. Win tonight, and the title race goes to the final day.
O’Neill’s job is to pick the side with enough balance, energy and edge to get Celtic through the first part of that equation.
