Some early team news in advance of tonight’s game, and it’s partially the kind the fans wanted to hear.
Ronny Deila has taken the decision to leave Stefan Johansen and Scott Allan out of his starting line-up. He’s returned Charlie Mulgrew to the team.
But he’s also decided that it’s time to give the fans what they want, and give a starting slot to the on-loan midfielder Patrick Roberts.
Obviously it’s disappointing that Scott Allan misses out, but the news that Roberts is playing will go down well with the supporters who are heading to Celtic Park for the match. His inclusion is a little different, and the fans will certainly welcome it.
Scott Allan has been decent enough when we’ve seen him and probably deserved a run to get his confidence up and really show us what he can do, although, as he’s said, it would be better if that wasn’t out wide left. In a special interview with CelticTV this week he thanked the various supporters who have used social media to support his quest for a first team spot. We should see him on the pitch at some point tonight.
It can only be a matter of time before young Christie is a regular starter too. He hasn’t made the squad here, with the subs bench padded out by Kris Commons and Callum McGregor. If he’s not injured this one is a puzzler as James Forrest is on the bench in spite of his lack of commitment to the cause.
Tonight will belong to Roberts, though, after a series of sterling performances for the Development Team, which put him instantly on the cusp of the first team.
Dropping Johansen represents a major change to the composition of the midfield and it has opened the door for the return of Tom Rogic, who’s impressive, and timely, statement on his contract situation eased a lot of concerns amongst the Celtic support.
He and Roberts would certainly add some dynamism to the midfield area.
This should make tonight a comfortable one, especially as Paul Hartley is looking to give some of his own fringe players a run out in the team ahead of their Scottish Cup tie with a lower league team at the weekend.
Tonight’s line up in full reads as:
Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Brown, Mulgrew; Roberts, Rogic, Armstrong; Griffiths
Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Kazim Richards, Commons, Allan, McGregor, Forrest