OPINION
Neil Lennon will take charge of Celtic’s first game since Brendan Rodgers’ exit when the Scottish Premiership leaders take on Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday night.
The Hoops’ interim manager is predicted to make three changes from the team that beat Motherwell on Sunday, with Kristoffer Ajer and midfielder Ewan Henderson likely to be axed and Ryan Christie forced out due to injury [Sky Sports].
Jozo Simunovic could return after missing the win against Motherwell, while Scott Brown is available once again after serving a one-match ban.
Callum McGregor is also expected to be back in the team after being rested at the weekend.
Scott Bain is predicted to start in goals for Lennon’s first starting line-up since returning to Celtic Park.
Jeremy Toljan, Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata and Kieran Tierney could be the interim boss’ back-four.
Brown could join Nir Bitton in the centre of the midfield with McGregor ahead of them in the No 10 role.
James Forrest and Scott Sinclair are very likely to start on the wings while Lennon could opt to name Odsonne Edouard up front after he hit a brace in the 4-1 win against Motherwell.
Celtic go into the game eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, but Rodgers’ decision to join Leicester has potentially thrown a spanner into the works ahead a vital run-in to seal a third domestic treble in a row.
Lennon is unlikely to make too many changes to what Rodgers has been doing at Parkhead, but there is a chance that he will lean more on the experienced players to help get the club over the line and seal history.