Celtic are set to field a heavily rotated side at Pittodrie on Wednesday night, with fringe players handed a rare opportunity to impress.
Supporters making the midweek trip to Aberdeen can expect a much-changed lineup as Brendan Rodgers opts to rest the majority of his regular starters ahead of next week’s Scottish Cup Final.
Rodgers has already settled on his starting XI, revealing over the weekend that key names such as Daizen Maeda and Cameron Carter-Vickers will be left out of the long journey north.
That opens the door for some of the squad’s lesser-used players to make a statement, with eyes on both short-term contributions and future roles.
Although Kasper Schmeichel returned from injury in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Hibernian, dependable backup Viljami Sinisalo is expected to start in goal — potentially for the final time this season. The Finnish keeper is highly regarded at Celtic and is seen as a likely long-term successor to 38-year-old Schmeichel.
Alistair Johnston is back in contention after a short injury layoff, but there’s uncertainty over who partners him in defence. Maik Nawrocki, who stepped up during a recent injury crisis, may return despite falling out of favour again after some commendable performances. If selected, he could be paired with either Liam Scales or Auston Trusty — the latter having shone in Europe but struggled to replicate that form domestically.
On the left, Jeffrey Schlupp may be given the nod ahead of Greg Taylor, who is expected to leave the club this summer.
Captain Callum McGregor, who turns 32 next month, could be retained in midfield to provide leadership among a youthful and rotated team. Bargain signing Luke McCowan and fringe midfielder Paulo Bernardo are likely to join him in the engine room, with youngster Sean McArdle potentially making another cameo off the bench after his debut at the weekend.
All eyes will be on James Forrest, who is chasing a goal that would see him score in 16 consecutive seasons — a remarkable feat for the long-serving winger. Meanwhile, Yang Hyun-jun could start on the opposite flank, having shown promise in recent appearances off the bench.
Up front, Johnny Kenny could finally make his first start for the Hoops. The 21-year-old impressed on loan at Shamrock Rovers but has been limited to a supporting role this term. With Maeda and Idah rested, this match could be his chance to prove he’s ready to lead the line for the champions.
Predicted Celtic Lineup: Sinisalo; Johnston, Nawrocki, Trusty, Schlupp; McCowan, Bernardo, McGregor;Forrest, Kenny, Yang.
