Day by day it seems that the task of getting past Astana has become more difficult for Brendan Rodgers.
As his attempted, and failed, to bring in fresh faces the new hoops manager wouldn’t have been considering that what remains of his central defence would go down injured.
If there was one player that Rodgers wanted to call on tomorrow it was Erik Sviachenko- unfortunately a groin injury will leave the Dane to watch from afar as Celtic’s Champions League hopes go on the line. A hand injury to Kristoffer Ajer slammed another defensive door closed.
With four experienced defenders on the sidelines Rodgers has little to think over with his defensive options decidedly slim.
While the hoops boss might have been thinking towards playing a 3-5-2 formation injuries look like forcing him to go with a 4-4-2 with the experienced Mikel Lustig essential to his plans.
Despite the injury fears and Astana’s fine record in recent qualifiers there is plenty of grounds to be optimistic ahead of tomorrow’s match.
Rodgers knows that reaching the Champions League group stage is essential for his own and Celtic’s reputation- going with the team revealed in this gallery will go a long way to delivering the European nights that supporters crave.
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Last season Craig Gordon was spared from some of Celtic’s trips to plastic pitches
but the Scotland keeper will be essential tomorrow with neither back up keeper having played a competitive match.
It was in the 2014/15 Europa League campaign that he nailed down his credentials as a worthy successor to Fraser Forster as he bedded into the side behind Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer.
Last season the former Hearts keeper seemed more vulnerable but with Logan Billy out injured he is virtually unopposed as first choice with a clean sheet in Kazakhstan going a long way towards qualification.
Saidy Janko arrived at Celtic with the perfect pedigree,
a Swiss youth internationalist signed by Manchester United with loan experience at Bolton, but last season was one to forget.
With Brendan Rodgers showing interest in a 3-5-2 formation Janko looks a live contender for the right wing-bak role but against Astana he’ll require to put in a disciplined display at right-back.
Defensive options are incredibly limited, a standout performance from Janko would be perfectly timed and help the 20-year-old banish the memories of last season as he kick starts his Celtic career into action.
If ever a player was being presented with a golden opportunity then it’s Eoghan O’Connell.
Injuries played havoc during his loan spells at Oldham and Cork City last season but it looks like his luck may be turning at Celtic with Rodgers having to deal with a defensive crisis.
By all accounts Astana are a direct and physical side which should play to O’Connell’s strengths- high balls and headers although he is no slouch on the deck either.
Two years after making his top team debut this season is critical for his development. If he can handle Astana Rodgers will have gained a genuine central defender without spending a penny.
Having hinted at playing Mikael Lustig in central defence it seems that Rodgers
has no option but to play the experienced Swede alongside Eoghan O’Connell.
Like most players at the club last season wasn’t a vintage one for Lustig but with Charlie Mulgrew departed and Kris Commons out injured other than Scott Brown there aren’t many in the Celtic dressing room with experience of earning a place in the group phase of the Champions League
A goal like the one he pinged in against Lincoln Red Imps would be very welcome but it’s at the back that Lustig will be judged- with his experience vital.
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As he came through the ranks the big question over Kieran Tierney
was whether he would develop into a left midfielder or left-back.
Tierney’s versatility won’t do him any harm but against Astana he’ll need to put in a mature discilpined performance- curtailing his natural attacking instincts.
With a new look back four around him the teenager ould be the most experienced defender available to Rodgers- on past experience the new Celtic manager will have nothing to worry about over KT.
So far under Brendan Rodgers it’s doubtful if any midfielder has made a bigger impact than Callum McGregor.
No longer the rookie that broke in under Ronny Deila- the23-year-old is justifying his place in the side on form. A year ago it looked like the five year contract was heavily in the player’s favour, now it looks like a very shrewd piee of forward thinking.
With his close control, ability to get into the penalty box and eye for goal McGregor is developing into a very useful modern day midfielder. His versatility could be priceless against Astana with no room for passengers on board.
Despite the criticism that flooded his way after the defeat to Lincoln Red Imps Scott Brown
retains the faith of his manager and place in the side.
Rodgers feels that the signing of Kolo Toure can reduce the burden on Brown, the managers praise for the captain remains unstinting.
A decade of European experience has shaped Brown’s game- tomorrow night he has to live up to the armband and deliver on the pitch as he guides a relatively inexperienced squad through a dangerous footballing backwater
The troubled misfit of last season has been replaced by the impressive prospect that saw Celtic write Dundee United a £1.75m cheque for Stuart Armstrong.
Playing as an attacking left midfielder always looked a burden but playing in central midfield or within a five man middle-line he has looked much more comfortable and resourceful.
Rodgers has a big call to make between Armstrong and Stefan Johansen but it looks like the former Dundee United man may have secured a place in the most competitive are of the pitch.
Ryan Christie has been given gentle encouragement under Brendan Rodgers
– earning a starting slot in the away match against Lincoln Red Imps.
His ability to track back looks like giving him the edge over Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton who is unlikely to be fully match fit for the testing conditions likely against Astana.
Christie has slowly been making inroads towards the first XI and appears well ahead of Scott Allan and Liam Henderson as Rodgers sifts through his midfield options to discover exactly what he inherited from Ronny Deila.
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After a little experiment in Gibraltar it seems certain that Rodgers will see Griffiths
role as through the centre rather than coming in from wide.
No one did more to try and get Celtic past Malmo last season than Griffiths who has openly stated that he’d swap his 40 goals for a place in the biggest stage of all.
Comparisons to the great Celtic strikers of the past are still premature but no one will be bothering if he fires the goals past Astana to book a place in the play-off stage- and the chance to make up for last season’s misery in Malmo.
Although a goal would be very welcome Moussa Dembele
is showing signs of developing a strong partnership with Leigh Griffiths.
The former Fulham man has shown an impressive appetite for work- once he finds his touch around goal the stats from Craven Cottage suggest that Rodgers will have a potent strike partnership to work with.
Chances are likely to be at a premium against Astana with Dembele’s ability to track back and physical presence as useful as his striking instincts and partnership with Griffiths.
Thoughts on: Gordon; Janko, Lustig, O’Connell, Tierney; McGregor, Brown, Armstrong, Christie; Griffiths, Dembele?