Match Day 5 in the Scottish Premiership sees Celtic make the trip to the Fountain of Youth Stadium to square off against the Hamilton Accies in an early Saturday afternoon fixture.
Neil Lennon’s men have started the 2019/20 season on a perfect note domestically with four wins out of four matches including a 0-2 victory against eternal rivals, Rangers at the Ibrox Stadium. Additionally Celtic have also secured their spot in the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.
Celtic’s fixture against Hamilton should be an easy fixture for the Hoops, and it would be interesting to see if Lennon decides to rest a few players ahead of Celtic’s Europa League fixture against French opposition, Rennes.
Celtic are currently nursing several players at their sickbay and might have to enter the fixture against Hamilton with a make-shift starting eleven. Their centre-back duo, Jozo Simunovic and Kristoffer Ajer are ruled out of this fixture with knee and groin injuries respectively. Lennon is also expected to be without the services Nir Bitton as the midfielder is still recovering from a hamstring problem.
Here’s how Celtic could take to the field against Hamilton.
Formation – 4-3-3
Defence
Fraser Forster is set to take charge between the sticks as he bids to hold onto his third clean-sheet of the campaign. The goalie is expected to be largely untested during this fixture. Stoke City loanee, Mauritz Bauer is set to start at the right-back position.
Christopher Jullien is set to take command in the centre of Celtic’s defence alongside Hatem Elhamed. The latter is naturally a right-back but displayed his versatility in the second half of the Old Firm victory over Rangers when Nir Bitton picked up an injury. Mbombo is set to occupy the left-back position.
Midfield
The ever-reliant duo of Scott Brown and Callum McGregor are expected to start in midfield. The duo would be vital in keeping things in control in the centre of the park. Ryan Christie is likely to start alongside them for this relatively easy fixture for the Hoops. The trio started in the victory against Rangers and are expected to retain their place in the starting eleven.
Attack
An extremely make-shift front line of James Forrest, Lewis Morgan and Vakoun Bayo would be taking centre stage against a 7th placed Hamilton side. Forrest started in Celtic’s last win before the international break. Odsonne Edouard who scored the opening goal against Rangers is likely to be given rest for this fixture after playing two matches for France U-21 squad in which he scored four goals.
Predicted Line-Up
Fraser Forster
Mauritz Bauer – Hatem Elhamed – Christopher Jullien – Mbombo
Scott Brown – Callum McGregor – Ryan Christie
James Forrest – Vakoun Bayo – Lewis Morgan
