Nadir Ciftci, Scott Allan, Callum McGregor and Anthony Stokes are all in the Celtic side for tonight’s Development League match with Dundee at Cappielow.
Four overage players, plus an overage goalkeeper, can be played in the u-20 competition with Ronny Deila using the match as preparation for Saturday’s top of the table clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Tonight’s match is Ciftci’s first domestic appearance with the former Dundee United striker completing a six match SFA ban.
Ciftci was picked to start Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers against Stjarnan and Qarabag and looks certain to be in the squad at Aberdeen.
With Stefan Scepovic sent on loan to Getafe in La Liga Ciftci and Stokes represent two thirds of the Celtic strike force as the season enters a crucial stretch.
Stokes played in the opening match of the Development League when Celtic beat Partick Thistle 4-0 with Aiden Nesbitt catching the eye with a hat-trick.
Nesbitt was on duty with Scotland’s u-19 side last week in Bulgaria and is joined in tonight’s side by international team-mates Jack Breslin, Kieran Tierney and Joe Thomson.
Celtic are out in front in the Development League with a 100% record after three matches with wins over Aberdeen and Hibs following on from the opening day win over Partick Thistle.
As well as the Development League Celtic’s underage sides will be involved on two fronts against international opponents.
In the u-19 Champions League the hoops face HJK Helsink over two legs while in the Premier League International Cup they are up against Liverpool, Chelsea and Benfica.
CELTIC: Fasan; Breslin, Kelleher, McCart, Tierney; Thomson, McGregor; Nesbitt, Allan, Stokes; Ciftci
SUBS: Wardrop, Hazard, Hill, Hendry, Miller, Lafferty, McIlduff.
Joe,
Scepovic is on loan at Getafe, not Lavante m8.
Really want to see Ciftci start alongside Griffiths in as many games as possible, I still believe in a strike partnership, I feel these two will get us the goals.
People debate about who should get dropped to accommodate a 2nd striker, well for me I don’t think Celtic need 2 holding central midfield players ( Brown/Bitton for domestic games, I would alternate Brown/Bitton partnering Johansen in midfield.
HH!
A full squad to pick from come Saturday, would be ideal. NC will give us a different option up front, which has been missed at times.
Hope the hoops hammer the sheep, and then we’ll see what their manager will be whining about next.
HH