Scottish champions Celtic face their last aggressive take a look at earlier than the upcoming World Cup, with Ange Postecoglou’s rampant facet seeking to keep their stranglehold on first place with victory over Ross County this afternoon.
The Hoops head into that conflict at Parkhead having received 13 of their 14 Scottish Premiership video games to this point this season, with that near-perfect type having seen the Old Firm outfit open up a seven-point lead over Glasgow rivals Rangers on the summit.
The omens bode effectively for the Bhoys for this assembly with Malky Mackay’s facet, having already crushed the Staggies twice this season in league and cup, with each of these triumphs having come on the street.
Looking forward to at the moment’s encounter at Paradise, right here’s how we at Football FanCast predict that the hosts will line up:
Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor; Mooy, O’Riley, Turnbull; Maeda, Kyogo, Jota.
Postecoglou has been handed a lift within the build-up to the sport with the 57-year-old confirming that he has no recent damage issues to cope with following the midweek win over Motherwell, albeit with midfield pair Callum McGregor and James McCarthy nonetheless out of motion.
With that in thoughts, we predict that there might be simply three tactical adjustments from the facet that ran out 2-1 winners in that VAR-dominated affair at Fir Park on Wednesday night, making certain that former England primary Joe Hart retains his place within the sticks.
The solely alteration to the backline may see summer time signing Moritz Jenz launched instead of Carl Starfelt, with it maybe unwise to overuse the returning Swede following his current injury absence.
An extra alteration may effectively happen in midfield with David Turnbull set to come back in alongside Aaron Mooy and Matt O’Riley, with the Scotland worldwide having registered a surprising assist off the bench in opposition to the Steelmen.
The playmaker’s inclusion may effectively see regular starter Reo Hatate drop out of the facet, with the Japan worldwide – who was omitted from his nation’s World Cup squad – ‘not at his best‘ last time out, as per Glasgow Live’s Ben Banks.
The identical may be stated of ahead Liel Abada who was one thing of a villain a couple of days in the past, with the Israeli worldwide set to make approach instead of midweek matchwinner, Daizen Maeda, the 25-year-old – who will be going to Qatar – having solely not too long ago been lauded for his “immense” contribution as an alternative by his supervisor.
The former J-League star might be joined by compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi and talisman Jota in assault, with the Portuguese gem having been on the centre of controversy concerning his ‘offside’ aim in opposition to Steven Hammelll’s facet.