Brendan Rodgers has a few big calls to make ahead of Celtic’s Champions League clash against RB Leipzig on Tuesday night.
It wasn’t so long ago that Celtic were conceding seven to Borussia Dortmund and the team’s morale was on the floor.
But that has probably been the only real blip of the season so far and fans are hoping the upward trajectory continues against Leipzig.
Celtic’s draw away at Atalanta has brought life back to the club’s European season and provided fresh hope that a play-off place will be secured.
There can’t be too many complaints from Rodgers regarding his squad because everyone is available and the competition has just got stronger for starting places.
Celtic smashed Aberdeen for six in the League Cup semi-final at the weekend and the bench in itself, which wasn’t needed, made for interesting viewing.
But will Rodgers now use that and change things up for a midweek European game?
Michael Stewart would be surprised if Auston Trusty doesn’t start for Celtic against RB Leipzig
One of the more interesting fights for places is happening at the heart of the defence between Liam Scales and Auston Trusty.
Regardless of whatever happens, Cameron Carter-Vickers is the main guy at the back, it’s just a case of staying out of the treatment room.
Scales was on the bench for Celtic’s win over Aberdeen and Michael Stewart can’t see a reason why the Irishman would return to the XI, even if he hasn’t done much wrong.
Stewart told Premier Sports that it would be ‘strange’ from Rodgers’ perspective if he changed his centre-backs again.
The decision on Saturday with Trusty was pace and athleticism, but he has done well now,” said Stewart. “It starts to get to the stage where, how do you drop him?
“As harsh as it has been on Liam Scales. Trusty is now in that position and I would find it, not bizarre, but harsh and strange if he was to change it again because you don’t want to be flip-flopping your centre-halves too much. You want to try and get a bit of consistency there as well.
“So, I would be surprised if he didn’t stick with Trusty.
Liam Scales v Trusty stats for Celtic
Celtic signed Trusty in the summer after his previous spells at Sheffield United and Arsenal, as he was brought in for this very reason.
Nothing was wrong with how the centre-backs were performing, but some freshness and added quality was needed and the American has brought that.
WhoScored has rated his start to life in the Premiership at 7.25 and he is rated under seven for his performances in the Champions League.
Scales broke into Celtic’s first XI last season and was one of the stories of the season under Rodgers.
But now he finds himself fighting for a place, with his start to the new campaign being pretty strong, especially in Europe, with WhoScored rating his campaign at an impressive 7.10.
