OPINION
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to reinstate attacker Oliver Burke into his starting line up for Thursday’s vital Europa League clash at Valencia.
The Scotland international toiled in a false nine role in the first leg at Parkhead, but will likely line up as a number ten playing behind frontman Odsonne Edouard on Thursday.
That change will probably see Ryan Christie drop to the bench, while left back Emilio Izaguirre is also expected to come in for Jonny Hayes on the left hand side of the defence.
Those will most likely be the only alterations from Sunday’s late victory over Kilmarnock, with captain Scott Brown’s suspension for his sending off in that game not applying to European competition.
Scott Bain has looked impressive in recent weeks and was one of the few Celtic players to emerge from last week’s game with any credit, he will surely keep his place ahead of Craig Gordon. At left back, as mentioned, Izaguirre is expected to come in for Hayes.
There aren’t too many healthy options available to Rodgers at centre back at the moment, meaning that Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer will likely continue here. Jeremy Toljan can expect to continue his run at right back ahead of Mikael Lustig.
In central midfield Brown and McGregor will almost certainly continue their partnership. Again, Rodgers isn’t overly blessed with fully fit options in that area of the pitch so his choices are limited.
An attacking midfield trio of James Forrest, Burke and Scott Sinclair will surely start behind Edouard. All three players have the pace and cutting edge to hurt Valencia, while Edouard is Rodgers’s most trusted striker.
