Journalist Kieran Devlin has suggested manager Ange Postecoglou could make ‘surprise’ call ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup match.
Tonight, the Bhoys will take on Dundee United in the quarter-final round of the competition. With plenty on the line, it will be interesting to see how the club’s Australian manager approaches the tricky away match.
While speaking on a Q&A on The Athletic, Devlin claimed that the midfield could be a particular area of intrigue and stated that Yosuke Ideguchi could even be asked to play the number six role ahead of Nir Bitton.
He wrote: “Think midfield will be interesting tonight.
“Persist with Bitton as a 6 (or maybe even a surprise Ideguchi) and McGregor further forward, or will one or both of Hatate and O’Riley having some respite mean they might be ready to deliver the kind of performances of when they first arrived.
“A good problem to have, especially after the first half of the season!”
TIF thoughts on Yosuke Ideguchi and Celtic…
Ideguchi joined Celtic back in January from Japanese club Gamba Osaka after signing on a four-and-half-year contract. Since then, he has played just twice in the league but has struggled with a knee injury.
Having spent the club’s last game – a 3-1 away win over Livingston – on the bench, with Bitton favoured in the deepest midfielder position, Postecoglou certainly has a call to make if he wants to mix things up.
Would you start Yosuke Ideguchi for Celtic tonight?
Yes
No
Considering a place in the semi-final is at stake, and that Ideguchi hasn’t had too many minutes in a Celtic shirt so far, it would be a surprise if he was to come in – especially, with a number of other options to pick from in the middle of the park too (as Devlin makes clear).
Still, Ideguchi has played twice in the Scottish Cup before. Perhaps he’ll get another chance tonight.
In other news: ‘I cannot get my head around’ – Mark Guidi shocked at what’s been said about Celtic 24 y/o