Brendan’s defensive dilemma

One of Brendan Rodgers’ biggest decisions for the match against Astana is who is will make up his defence.

Injuries to Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko have severely limited his options while the performance against Partick Thistle threw up a couple of concerns.

Against Rosenborg and Hearts, Nir Bitton was largely untested but there were a few key moments at Firhill that you wouldn’t want to see repeated in a Champions League Play-Off.

If Alan Archibald’s side can carve out a couple of chances that exposed Bitton it has to be assumed that the team that knocked Legia Warsaw out of the Champions League might take advantage of similar opportunities.

Defensive options are limited but there are a few possibilities for the Celtic boss to think over, by the time he gets round to training on Tuesday and Wednesday he’ll know exactly what formation he’ll be using in the bid to reach the £30m Champions League jackpot.

Whatever option he comes up with there will be no room for sentiment- whatever is in the interests of the team will be carried out. Past favours won’t come into Rodgers’ thinking.

NIR BITTON

After a couple of SPFL matches alongside Jozo Simunovic he should be the best man for the job but there were worrying signs at Firhill.

His passing is amongst the best at the club but tracking back and putting in tackles isn’t a strength.

A Champions League qualifier may take his game to another level but in all honestly I doubt if Rodgers would want to take Bitton into the group phase matches, it’s a big big call to make.

MIKAEL LUSTIG

The Swede could go in to partner Simunovic or the team could be shuffled around to deal with a three man defence.

Lustig could cope with that without any feat, the system was tried a few times in pre-season but it’s not the natural shape of the team.

If Astana only play with one striker the system could work out but it would be quite a decision to shuffle the side around, whatever his position Lustig will be ready to handle it.

KRISTOFFER AJER

Has impressed the fans with his appearances in central defence and didn’t do much wrong against Rosenborg.

He is young and inexperienced but Eoghan O’Connell stepped in last season while Kieran Tierney established himself with a memorable display at home to Fenerbahce.

Rodgers switched Ajer into defence very early after taking over from Ronny Deila, a Champions League Play-Off is new territory but so far the teenager has handled every challenge he’s had to deal with.

ANTHONY RALSTON

Rodgers really wants to develop and push the full-back on this season- could he step in for Lustig and stand up to the biggest challenge of his career.

All the signs say yes but it’s all about the partnership and how Lustig and Simunovic play together and keep an eye on an inexperienced full-back.

Monday in training may be the day for Ralston to stake his claim and put the accelerator down on his Celtic career.