Celtic predicted XI v Rangers: £3.5m man to start, 27-year-old to make debut

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon has some tough decisions to make over the coming days, with the Hoops squad set to have several players missing for the Premiership derby with Rangers this weekend.

Nir Bitton, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Ryan Christie have been ruled out of the derby due to self-isolation protocols, while Odsonne Edouard will be able to return only the day before the game or the day of the game.

Albian Ajeti hasn’t featured since going off in the first half of the home win against Hibs on 27 September, while James Forrest is out due to an ankle injury and Mikey Johnson is only just back in training.

So, what could Celtic’s XI against Rangers look like as things stand?

On the positive side, the defensive spine remains unaffected for now – a back three of Shane Duffy, Kristoffer Ajer and Christopher Jullien is likely to be deployed in front of Vasilis Barkas.

On the flanks, Diego Laxalt is likely to come in for his debut on the left, the 27-year-old Uruguay international nudging Greg Taylor onto the bench, while Jeremie Frimpong should be on the right.

In midfield, Lennon could opt for a trio of Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham, with Tom Rogic and David Turnbull as potential reserves.

Up front is where it gets tricky – with Edouard and Ajeti likely to be out, that leaves Patryk Klimala, Leigh Griffiths and Mohamed Elyounoussi as forward options.

Assuming Edouard doesn’t play – for all we know, Lennon could spring a surprise if the player is back and fit – then we feel the £3.5m Pole and the Southampton loanee will start, with Griffiths potentially coming off the bench.

Celtic predicted XI (3-5-2): Barkas; Jullien, Duffy, Ajer; Frimpong, Ntcham, Brown, McGregor, Laxalt; Elyounoussi, Klimala