The alternative Celtic XI that could solve winger crisis for Ross County clash as Rodgers forced to get creative
For once it's the type of selection headache Brendan Rodgers doesn't want as he takes his team to Dingwall for Saturday's lunchtime Premiership clash in the Highlands.
The Celtic boss is normally spoiled for choice in any given position but a serious lack of wingers means he'll have to get creative with his forward line. They've been linked with £7m-rated Norwegian winger Sondre Orjasaeter but in the meantime will have to make do with what they have - and that could lead to a surprise or two in the starting XI.
Speaking on his wingers, Rodgers said: “James (Forrest) certainly won't be available. The two boys (Maeda and Kuhn) could be ready for Tuesday. Daizen has obviously played a lot of football and just felt something that he didn't want to aggravate. He's gone for a scan so it's not too serious but it just rules him out of this game. Likewise with Nicolas, he felt something just in the warm-up the other night. He had the scan and it was nothing too serious. We’ll get them treatment and then we'll assess them for Tuesday's game.”
Luis Palma is also expected to be out due to personal reasons, so with none of those four in play, only Yang is available of the senior wingers in Rodgers' squad. So that leaves the boss with two choices: either take a punt on a largely untested youngster, or play someone out of position.
Predicted Celtic XI
If it's the latter path he chooses then the two glaring contenders pose very different options. Alex Valle can be an attacking force on the ball and likely wouldn't shy away from the challenge. But you sense Rodgers may want a more natural attacker, and he has one available in Kyogo, even if he isn't a tailored fit to one of the wing positions.
While Kyogo doesn't have the direct running power of Maeda or Kuhn, he has enough energy and quality on the ball to make himself a problem playing off Adam Idah. And his inclusion there would free up Valle, a more imposing attacking left-back than Greg Taylor, to slot in behind him and cause some chaos on the overlap.
As far as midfield options go, there are plenty of those. Luke McCowan could start again and Reo Hatate could also be recalled but, with minimal natural width on the left hand side, he may want the natural attacking threat of Paulo Bernardo creating chances from deep.
Provisional Celtic squad
Goalkeepers
Kasper Schmeichel
Viljami Sinisalo
Scott Bain
Defenders
Alistair Johnston
Anthony Ralston
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Liam Scales
Auston Trusty
Stephen Welsh
Greg Taylor
Alex Valle
Midfielders
Paulo Bernardo
Arne Engels
Reo Hatate
Callum McGregor
Luke McCowan
Yang
Forwards
Kyogo
Adam Idah
Johnny Kenny
