The two strikers “experiment” is over.
Celtic are playing one man up front today with a squad that features none of the following players; Kris Commons, Scott Allan, Ryan Christie, Carlton Cole or Patrick Roberts.
Are they injured? Are some of them injured? Who knows?
But Stefan Johansen is back in the team and Charlie Mulgrew has made the substitutes bench, along with Tom Rogic, easily our most improved player of the season.
Today’s match has “must win” written all over it.
Deila’s decision not to include Commons, Allan or Christie might be down to them not being fit, I don’t know for sure although reports yesterday suggested that only Simunovic and Janko were missing through injury.
If it’s not that, I wonder if Scott Allan’s time at Celtic is already running out, especially as the manager believes Mulgrew should be playing for a new deal.
Carlton Cole has gone from being our backup striker to being the backup’s backup, and his absence is not in the slightest bit surprising.
But Patrick Roberts not being included?
Well, that one will have a lot of questions being asked, and not just in the stands.
In a way I admire this; if this is calculated snub to the “Manchester City feeder club” strategy then I applaud the manager for it.
But if this player has the potential to add something dynamic to the team then what the Hell is this all about?
Time will tell.
Those going to the match will already be asking questions.
The confirmed lineup is as follow:
Celtic starting line-up: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Brown, Bitton; Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Armstrong; Griffiths.
Celtic substitutes: Bailly, Izaguirre, Mulgrew, McGregor, Kazim-Richards, Rogic, Forrest.