With most eyes on Bayern Munich on Wednesday Brendan Rodgers will ensure that Celtic’s focus goes no further than the visit of Dundee on Saturday.
The Celtic boss will already have his Champions League side in mind but until 5pm on Saturday all that he’ll be thinking of will be taking three points against Neil McCann’s side.
Injuries will have a big bearing on Rodgers’ selection alongside dealing with players returning from mixed results on international duty.
Mikael Lustig and Tom Rogic have play-off’s to consider next month while half a dozen Scottish players have got disappointment to cope with.
Over the next 48 hours we will discover the extent of the injuries to Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Jozo Simunovic with all three looking like missing out against Dundee.
Almost all of the non-internationalists can look to start Saturday’s match as the hoops look to pick up on the 2-2 draw at home to Hibs which provided the biggest threat to Rodgers’ unbeaten domestic run.
That result allowed Aberdeen to draw level and provide another reminder than nothing is presented on a plate domestically.
While Celtic’s preparation has been fractured for this match Dundee have enjoyed a fortnight to build on their 2-1 win against Hearts which featured a stoppage time winner from Kerr Waddell.
With the fans looking forward to the return of club football the following XI can claim full points and send everyone to Munich in good spirits.
CRAIG GORDON
Will have felt the pain of Scotland’s latest set back more than most but knows that there is no time for feeling sorry.
Munich will be as unforgiving as international football with the Scotland keeper looking for a clean sheet for this match.
His domestic form has been erratic, highlighted by his display against Hibs but there is no doubt over who is Rodgers’ undisputed first choice keeper.
CRISTIAN GAMBOA
After helping Costa Rica to qualify for the World Cup Finals it’s time for the defender to make his first Celtic appearance of the season.
Anthony Ralston is still suffering with a knee injury while Mikael Lustig is too important for Munich to take any kind of risk in this match.
Gamboa clearly doesn’t feature in Brendan Rodgers’ long term plans but he is still at the club and this sort of situation is why he wasn’t sold in the summer.
Dundee should pose little threat to the Costa Rican who will be looking to get bombing down the right flank after a long wait to start his club season.
DEDRYCK BOYATA
He never got any game time with Belgium but there is no harm in training with one of the top ten nations in the game.
His recovery from injury in pre-season has now been matched by the match fitness from a run of games.
The former Manchester City defender was described by Brendan Rodgers as his first choice central defender, the remainder of October gives him the opportunity to reinforce that view.
KIERAN TIERNEY
Seemed to take Scotland’s failure badly but should quickly get back into the zone at club level.
I suspect he could be paired with Boyata with a view to Wednesday in Munich as the injury problems in central defence show no sign of easing up.
Whatever position he is asked to play he will carry it out with professionalism, very few 20 year old defenders share Tierney’s understanding of defensive positions.
CALVIN MILLER
Was outstanding away to Kilmarnock and has continued that sort of form in the Development League and UEFA Youth League.
A home match against Dundee is exactly the type of fixture to kick on his development with Celtic Park the perfect stage for his attacking instincts.
He won’t be starting away to Bayern Munich but can offer 90 stellar minutes on the domestic front.
OLIVIER NTCHAM
Had mixed experiences with the French u-21 side, much like his club form so far since his transfer.
He is still settling in following his summer transfer with this type of fixture typical of the domestic games he can expect with 70% possession.
Dundee won’t pose too many attacking questions allowing Ntcham to push forward and repeat the form that he showed away to Astana.
CALLUM MCGREGOR
It was entirely predictable that he would be left out of action with Scotland after Strachan reluctantly called him up as a replacement.
He won’t be bothered by that snub and will be ready to pick up where he signed off at club level with a starting place and two goals against Hibs.
His eye for goal and forward passing will help provide an extra forward in this fixture with a goal very likely.
JAMES FORREST
Very strangely found himself on the bench for Scotland in Slovenia but he won’t be fazed by that.
Despite the return of Patrick Roberts he has remained at the front of Brendan Rodgers’ plans with the pace and goal threat to trouble any domestic opponent.
He’s been over the course many times before and will be highlighted by McCann as one of the biggest threats to the Dundee defence.
PATRICK ROBERTS
Was tried in the support striker role at Dens Park in the League Cup and it never quite worked.
A month after returning to Celtic he is back upto speed fitness wise and starting to make an impact.
After being overlooked by England in favour of a New York City player he has some additional motivation but has shown that a Celtic jersey is one that inspires him.
SCOTT SINCLAIR
Will be somewhere in the thoughts of Gareth Southgate the England boss won’t be looking in on a Scottish domestic fixture.
Sinclair has spoken out confidently about his England hopes and knows that that I wholly dependent on his Champions League performances.
Playing Dundee could be a fairly physical challenge but he is well used to that, like McGregor he should be a banker goalscorer.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
Two matches into the Champions League and the Frenchman has still to make his mark.
Leigh Griffiths isn’t likely to go the distance away to Bayern which opens the door slightly to Dembele.
With a very heavy run of fixtures it’s important that Dembele gets back to top form, his goals and providing an alternative to Leigh Griffiths would be very welcome.