Scottish Premiership is set to resume soon following three weeks of winter recess and Celtic, who are currently six points off Rangers at the top of the Premiership standings, will host Hibernian on Monday night in a crucial league outing. Despite scoring first, Hibs were defeated last month in the League Cup final and the Hoops, therefore, must replicate a similar outcome in this midweek fixture.
Celtic, meanwhile, might undergo a crisis high up the pitch with Kyogo Furuhashi yet to recover from an ongoing injury woe. The red-hot Japanese scored a brace to conquer the Cup crown and his potential absence would relieve the visitors who are fighting back under ex-Celts star Shaun Maloney’s tutelage.
Predicted 4-3-3 Celtic Lineup To Face Hibernian
Defence
Joe Hart’s arrival at Parkhead has restored stability between the sticks in the aftermath of a dreadful 2020-21 campaign. The veteran Englishman has replaced Vasilis Barkas in goal as the Greek custodian is now transfer-listed by the Glasgow giants.
The backline looks more stable now with plenty of options available to select from. Although Christopher Jullien has finally stepped up his recovery by returning to full training, Ange Postecoglou should stick with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt who have been his preferred central defensive pairing. Josip Juranovic might get the nod as the right fullback, whereas Greg Taylor is expected to operate from the left ahead of Liam Scales.
Midfield
Skipper Callum McGregor should feature as the deep-lying playmaker given his experience and flexibility in the centre of the pitch. His presence at the base would allow David Turnbull and Tom Rogic to move box-to-box and exhibit their expertise. Known for their creative spark, both Rogic and Turnbull must offer their presence in and around the attacking third.
Winter signings Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi might get involved at some stage along with the likes of James McCarthy and Nir Bitton among the other central midfield options.
Attack
Postecoglou must opt for ‘Plan B’ if Furuhashi fails to recover prior to the upcoming tie. New recruit Daizen Maeda might get the nod in place of his compatriot, however, the gaffer is hopeful of having Filipe Jota back in contention for the Hibs clash. A start straight away might be a risky business, but the Portuguese could be involved as a second-half substitute if needed. Mikey Johnston has been impressive from the left, also the swift movements and finishing traits of Liel Abada must be utilized down the right-hand flank.
