Celtic changes to face Partick Thistle

He would have made changes any way for the game with Partick Thistle but after losing 4-0 at Hearts there is more reason for Brendan Rodgers to shuffle his starting XI.

Defence will be the area most closely looked at with most fans patience at an end for the partnership of Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata.

Rodgers has tried out a back three at various times, as recently as last week at home to Hamilton with the hoops boss flexible in his use of players and systems.

While the heavy schedule of fixtures is taking a toll it also seems that a mix of fatigue and complacency is setting in on some of the players.

The impact of heavy defeats in Europe shouldn’t be underestimated, casting doubts among the players after an extended period of success and progress.

Getting through the dour remaining matches with full points will kill off any talk of a title challenge with the players coming into the side well aware of what is expected of them.

Pressing the RESET button in style will send out a message to the rest of the division, bottom of the table Partick Thistle look like the perfect opponents to kick off that new chapter with.

KRISTOFFER AJER

The Celtic support were screaming out for the teenager to start against Hearts, sadly the evidence of the 90 minutes suggests that the fans could have been write.

Whether Ajer would have suffered alongwith his team-mates we will never know but surely he’ll be stating at home to Thistle, possibly alongside Kieran Tierney in central defence.

It is often the case that a player improves in the eyes of the fans when he is not in the side but at home to Motherwell and Hamilton in recent weeks Ajer has barely put a foot wrong.

CALVIN MILLER

Was outstanding in the early season win at Kilmarnock but hasn’t featured since then.

As well as progressing his own game the more match time that he gets the more Kieran Tierney can be take out of the firing line.

Tierney was picked out by Hearts for some rough houese treatment on Sunday, putting him into central defence every now and then while Miller develops makes sense all round.

EBOUE KOUASSI

Has been used very sparingly since signing in January but needs to get game time rather than go stale.

As an industrious midfielder he needs to be in at the thick of things to get on top of his form with regular appearances.

Celtic’s over reliance on Scott Brown is becoming a problem, if the skipper is below par we need to find someone else that can drive the team on.

JONNY HAYES

Has become more involved recently and could slot into the wide position on either flank.

He’s not close to becoming a first pick but is showing the sort of form to make him a reliable deputy, the visit of Aberdeen on Saturday should be one that he is looking forward to.

At times he has looked overawed in a Celtic shirt but has started to contribute and must be confident facing an out of touch Partick defence.

MOUSSA DEMBELE

It’s time to get him back in the starting XI and racking up the goals.

This season has been very much stop start but most of the evidence would suggest that he is our top striker.

Giving him the striker role against Thistle and notching a few goals can restore his confidence and build some momentum to sign out of 2017 in a blizzard of goals.