Nadir Ciftci will start his first SPFL game as a Celtic player today with LKeigh Griffiths missing the match with Motherwell.
Griffiths pulled out of the Scotland squad that beat Gibraltar last Sunday and is on the bench for today’s match alongside the recently exiled Anthony Stokes.
Captain Scott Brown has recovered from an ankle knock picked up in training to take his place in midfield with Efe Ambrose continuing at right back.
CELTIC: Gordon; Ambrose, Boyata, Blackett, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton, Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Ciftci
SUBS: Bailly, Tierney, Lustig, McGregor, Griffiths, Mackay-Steven, Stokes
Looking ahead to the return of domestic football Deila said: “It was a very good break but it’s good to be back at work and I’m looking forward to the games.
“When you come back from an international break, you have to see where everyone is and today we have been summing everything up. We will have clearer answers tomorrow.
“What I can say is that Stuart Armstrong is fit and ready to play again. Simunovic has been training but not playing much football, so it’s still too early for him.
“Scott twisted his ankle. He has done that before and we will see tomorrow how bad it is. It’s not a major one, though, and hopefully he can play on Saturday. Charlie is not ready. He’s coming closer and he could start training next week.
“Leigh Griffiths and James Forrest suffered knocks and could be available for Saturday but we aren’t sure yet. The positive thing is they don’t have big problems.
“Leigh has had some problems with a stiff calf for a month now. It started before the Ajax game and he has been in and out a little bit.
“He did something during the interval of the Scotland game. We have had a week on it and it looks okay. He did half of training today and hopefully he will be ready for Saturday.”
CELTIC: Gordon; Ambrose, Boyata, Blackett, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton, Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Ciftci
SUBS: Bailly, Tierney, Lustig, McGregor, Griffiths, Mackay-Steven, Stokes
Slim pickings today — we spend WAAAAAAYYY too much time passing the ball back and forth, or even backwards, and not enough time attacking at pace to put the defense on their heels — but I’d give Ciftci my MotM. Btw, anyone know why he blessed himself? I just assumed being Turkish he is Muslim …