The World Cup Finals are going to force Brendan Rodgers into a change in formation for Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers.
With just over a week to go before the opening match away to Alashkert the Celtic boss will be without three players who would be in his first choice XI with defence badly hit.
Mikael Lustig and Dedryck Boyata are still involved in Russia forcing Rodgers to completely reshape his defence.
While Tony Ralston played against Paris Saint Germain last season it’s 10 months since he last played for Celtic which could be a risk too much for Rodgers.
Switching from a back four to a three man defence would seem logical to cover up for the short term absence of two experienced international players.
With Stuart Armstrong sold to Southampton there is no ready made replacement for Tom Rogic with Rodgers taking a look at a different shape against Bohemians Prague.
Against the Czech side Celtic fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation which could be altered into a 3-4-1-2 to accommodate the three strikers available.
Weaving past Alashkert and Valur/Rosenborg won’t be easy but if that is achieved the return of the internationalists and improved match fitness should put Rodgers’ squad in a position to reach the group phase of the Champions League for the third season running.
Scroll below for the likely 3-4-1-2 side to face Alashkert