There is a buzz in the air as Celtic take on Aberdeen this weekend as the top two go head to head in the Scottish Premiership in a clash Brendan Rodgers will be relishing.
With the Bhoys who were on international duty now set to return, club football will once again be at the forefront for the foreseeable future.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are on a ten-match domestic win streak and sit top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference. However, Jimmy Thelin’s visitors have also taken maximum points, setting the scene for a box-office meeting on Saturday afternoon.
While it remains to be seen if Cameron Carter-Vickers will return from injury or if Greg Taylor is fit after his Scotland camp withdrawal, there are plenty of selections calls to chew over.
Now that the Bhoys’ exciting bout with Aberdeen is the main focus, there is a positional area that will be subject to debate more than most ahead of the weekend.
Brendan Rodgers’ big Celtic midfield call vs Aberdeen
On the face of it, Callum McGregor and Arne Engels are more than likely to start for Celtic against Aberdeen, with one being the captain and the other a record Bhoys signing at £11 million.
Leaving the other slot vacant, there are three realistic choices. Reo Hatate is the most obvious pick, factoring in his scope to provide a sprinkle of magic in the engine room.
Two goals and one assist have came to fruition from the Japanese midfielder this term, even if his performances have fell slightly below his extremely high standards.
Alternatively, Rodgers could opt to bring Paulo Bernardo into the mix. The Portugal Under-21 international has shown why he was brought back to the club this summer with some industrious midfield displays.
Most notably, Bernardo’s dominant showing against Rangers last month won alot of favour among supporters, but there is an acknowledgment his qualities diverge from what Hatate has to offer, creating an intriguing discussion about who is best-suited to help the Bhoys navigate their way past the Dons.
Finally, could Luke McCowan earn a first competitive Celtic start? In his substitute appearances since arriving at the club in the summer, his energy levels and calmness on the ball have helped maintain intensity late on in games.
Rodgers acknowledged McCowan’s ‘outstanding’ contribution at Ross County the week before last, stating: “Second half, the guys coming into the game, Paulo and Luke, they were outstanding. They were flexible on the ball, they showed good movement.”
Brendan Rodgers will have Celtic fired up to face Aberdeen
It goes without saying, but Rodgers isn’t one to get complacent for any fixture, let alone against someone who harbour aspirations of unseating his side at the top of the table.
Whoever starts at the weekend will have been reminded of their responsibilities before kick-off. There is alwats a duty to win at Celtic, that never changes no matter the opposition.
Hopefully, supporters can emerge from Saturday’s encounter buoyed after another excellent display. That is the hope, but let’s see how it plays out this weekend.
