Celtic have a good record against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership this season but Sunday’s trip to Dens Park is still a potential banana skin.
The Bhoys travelled to the venue in December and came away 3-0 winners, also beating the Dees by that scoreline at Celtic Park in September. And let’s not forget the 7-1 thrashing that came their way in February.
Nonetheless, Tony Docherty’s side are pushing for a European spot and, fresh off a creditable draw against Rangers at the same venue, will feel confident they can give Celtic a proper game today.
Brendan Rodgers almost has a full complement of players to choose from this afternoon but there is one confirmed absence. Daizen Maeda is making strong progress recovering from a hamstring injury but will not be in line to feature.
What team will the manager go with for this one? Here’s our best go at today’s eleven.
Potential Celtic team vs Dundee
Joe Hart will continue his box office retirement tour with a place in goal today. The Englishman has been in good form of late but hopefully won’t be too busy against the Dees.
The full-backs pick themselves at Celtic right now and nobody is expecting Alistair Johnston or Greg Taylor to be displaced on the flanks this afternoon.
One of the most scrutinised calls will come in defence, however. Liam Scales struggled last week at Hampden and his early-season consistency is evaporating. Some Celtic fans have called on Maik Nawrocki to get a renewed chance. If Rodgers is going to make that change for the title run-in, today is the day to do it. If we see Scales, expect him to stay in the team until the Scottish Cup Final.
Cameron Carter-Vickers will be on duty to partner with whoever the Bhoys boss decides to select.
James Forrest set for Celtic start
Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate are Celtic’s strongest midfield three at the moment. They’re again expected to be the triangle that Rodgers goes with.
On the wing, there are more big calls to make. Hyunjun Yang hasn’t been getting the job done recently and many fancy James Forrest to make his first start since November after his goal contribution at Hampden last week. The manager was effusive with praise for him in Friday’s media conference, too.
Opposite him will likely be Nicolas Kuhn. He’s been contributing more effectively than Yang or Luis Palma of late and should get the chance to show what he can do again.
Kyogo Furuhashi is the man to go with through the middle, with the in-form Adam Idah available to disrupt the game off the bench if needed in the second half.
Your Predicted XI in full is: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate, Kuhn, Forrest, Kyogo.