Celtic predicted starting XI to face LASK as winger earns start
Celtic are back in action tonight, on Wednesday night, when they face Austrian champions LASK in their Champions League qualifying playoff first leg. The Bhoys fell at this stage last season and are determined to go one better in reaching the league phase.
While recruitment was slow initially, Martin O'Neill has been given better recruitment this summer compared to Brendan Rodgers last summer, so there is some optimism going into the two-legged affair, especially after three straight wins to start the new season.
But LASK have also won their first three games, scoring nine goals in the process, so they are not to be underestimated, especially with the second leg in Austria.
Ahead of the first leg, we have put together the likely Celtic starting XI.
GK - Viljami Sinisalo
There is talk of Celtic signing a new number one, which will not help Sinisalo's confidence, so it will be interesting to see how he performs amid that pressure. Sinisalo has been solid so far this summer.
LB - Kieran Tierney
Tierney was rested for the cup game and should be the starting left-back. Liam Scales can play here and is the only deputy on the left currently.
CB - Cameron Carter-Vickers
Carter-Vickers has started the season well, putting last season's injury behind him. He will almost certainly start here.
CB - Auston Trusty
Trusty has been a reliable partner for Carter-Vickers and will likely remain a starter here.
RB - Colby Donovan
Celtic are without Alistair Johnston through injury, and so they will likely turn to Donovan, who played well there over the weekend. Anthony Ralston missed out despite being fit, so that suggests Donovan is ahead of him currently.
CDM - Callum McGregor
Celtic's reliable holding midfield linchpin, McGregor will be holding down the midfield as the only natural defensive midfielder available.
CDM - Mika Baur
This is a big decision for O'Neill, who prefers to play with two holding midfielders. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is suspended, leaving Celtic with no second defensive midfielder, so does O'Neill change shape or try to play Baur deeper? It could work with the new signing playing deep, given he loves having the ball at his feet, and he can take it from McGregor and drive up the pitch from deep.
CAM - Benjamin Nygren
Man of the Match last time out, Nygren goes into this game in the best possible form.
LW - Sebastian Tounekti
Yang Hyun-jun should be back after some fatigue issues, but Tounekti had a great game against Dundee United and should be rewarded with a start.
RW - Camilo Duran
Duran is not a winger, but he has been doing a good job out on the right, and he is far sharper than new boy Haissem Hassan at this stage, so he is very likely to keep his starting spot.
CF - Kasper Hogh
Hogh has scored four goals in three games, but all of those goals came in one game. He is the undoubted starter up top, but Celtic are going to need him to contribute with a goal or two across these two legs.
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