Report reveals details of Celtic’s midweek friendly match

Celtic’s one game a week routine at this stage of the season has come as something of a culture shock to supporters. 

Normally at this stage of the season there is a glut of matches as two critical competitions get underway while trying to piece together a first XI. 

Direct entry to the group stage of the Champions League has changed the entire outlook alongside four significant signings being made in January. 

Ange Postecoglou has had to fill the void with midweek bounce matches but very little has been heard about these games as the Celtic boss builds up fitness in his squad. 

During the eight day gap between playing Ross County and Kilmarnock a friendly with Queens Park was arranged with Owen Coyle using the fixture to give loan signing Malachi Boateng a taste of Scottish football. 

Discussing Boateng, The Herald reports Coyle saying: 

We couldn’t get his registration through in time. We then went up to Lennoxtown on Wednesday and the team Ange played was incredible.  

Mal played the game and he was terrific. The midfield was Aaron Mooy, James McCarthy, James Forrest and Liel Abada were wide.  

Giorgos Giakoumakis was through the middle and Carl Starfelt and Christopher Jullien also played. Tony Ralston played at right-back and Alexandro Bernabei played left-back with Benji Siegrist in the goal.  

Mal held his own and I have to tell you as Ange’s teams play, they were at full throttle. They were bang at it.  Mal came out and stood up to it. My frustration was not having him for Ayr, but what we have seen today he will continue in that form. 

CELTIC: Siegrist; Ralston, Jullien, Starfelt, Berabei; ?????, McCarthy, Mooy; Abada, Giakoumakis, Forrest 

With two more blank midweeks there are likely to be more fixtures like this as Postecoglou takes advantage of the fixture list before the matches are racked up before the World Cup break in November.