Kevin McKenna's Celtic 2023/24 season predictions

Celtic will be fighting across four fronts this season, both domestically and in Europe, as they look to continue their success in Scotland and improve on the continent. It has been a summer of change with Ange Postecoglou leaving and Brendan Rodgers returning to the helm as well as five new players joining the club so far.

So, how will things transpire for the Hoops in the 2023/24 season?

Player of the Season

Last season it was a toss-up between Kyogo Furuhashi and Cameron Carter-Vickers, and it feels like this season will see either one of these pair up there again. The imposing American central defender to pick up the award this time. If the team are to make progress in Europe, his strength and desire will be required more than ever. With two great seasons under his belt, he’ll be even better placed to succeed in the upcoming campaign. The team will obviously come under pressure in the Champions League, but he can help steer his fellow team-mates through.

Prediction: Cameron Carter-Vickers

Young Player of the Season

Liel Abada won’t be 22 until October, and if Celtic can resist the inevitable bids that will come in for him before the end of the transfer window, then he looks set for a good season. The winger looked right up for it in our pre-season matches and, like Carter-Vickers, will grow in confidence and stature. He also reportedly just purchased a new home in Glasgow, and it seems like he loves it here, so hopefully, that’s an indication that he’ll be at the club for a while yet. His pace, control, finishing and speed of thought will be crucial to how Brendan Rodgers wants Celtic to play. 

Prediction: Liel Abada

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Top goalscorer

This has to be Kyogo. He finished the season looking as sharp as he has been since joining the club. And he, too, has looked in the mood pre-season. Much will also depend on when the forward and Celtic decide when he gets surgery on his shoulder and his potential participation in the Asian Cup in January/February next year. But it does not look like any defence in Scotland capable of stopping him. No matter how sturdy and well-organised a defence is, it can’t cope with his speed of movement off the shoulder and finishing with either foot. 

Prediction: Kyogo Furuhashi

Most assists

It feels like the captain will play a more advanced role in Rodgers’ set-up, and this will open up more possibilities for him to open up defences with his laser-like passing ability. The manager will want his players to be more direct in getting inside the opposition penalty box and will be relying on McGregor's skills to find his colleagues. At 30, he’s at his peak and this could be his best-ever season. There has always been a feeling that Rodgers had an acute understanding of the Scotland international's game – probably more so than Postecoglou – and that this was why he wanted to bring him to Leicester City. Expect great things from the captain this season.

Prediction: Callum McGregor

Signing of the season

My international football contacts tell me that all of Celtic’s five signings thus far are players of proven quality who will be expected to fight for first-team starting places from the outset. The days of development signings, hopefully, are over. The two new South Koreans, Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeok-kyu are obviously unfamiliar to fans, but it’s worth noting that they hail from a country, like the Japanese players, who are above Scotland in the FIFA world rankings. Kwon, in particular, from his small sample size of game time, looks promising. He appears to have the technical attributes to thrive in Scotland.

Prediction: Kwon Hyeon-kyu

Most improved player

This is maybe wishful thinking, but hopefully, it will be David Turnbull. He's a smashing player who offers Celtic something extra from midfield. His long-range shooting is better than anyone else’s in Scotland, and he has looked sharp in pre-season. He is such a skilful player on the ball, and his injury last season came when we were beginning to see him at his best. Subsequently, Matt O’Riley’s performances restricted his appearances. Rodgers will give him a run of games, and hopefully, he’ll take the opportunity to show people why he was the most sought-after talent in Scottish football a few years ago. 

Prediction: David Turnbull

How will Celtic do in Europe?

There were times in the Champions League last season when Celtic played some breath-taking football. This included long spells of both games against Real Madrid. This can give the team confidence that they can play football at an elite level. Kyogo will also be desperate to turn his movement into goals in Europe as well. Certainly, it will all depend on the group draws, but Celtic are more than capable of reaching the round of 16 of the competition. They could have made it last season, and there is an argument that the squad has improved since then.   

Prediction: Champions League knockout stages

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What will Celtic win?

It is unlikely any team will stop the club from securing another treble. The key to Celtic's dominance in the last two seasons is that at least two top-class players have contested every starting position. In cup games, where in previous years there might have been a tendency to relax a little or to field development players, this simply isn’t an option any more. In saying this, though, hopefully, the best of the rest outside Celtic and Rangers– Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen – have improved and will give the champions some stiff competition. The disappointment would not longer long if, say, Hibs or Aberdeen were to lift some silverware.

What still needs to be done in the transfer market?

Kyogo’s shoulder surgery and his expected participation in the Asian Cup means a striker must be signed. The club should not be hanging around until January to do this, either. Oh Hyeon-gyu has shown a keen appetite for goals in what game time he’s had, but he’s not the finished article. Rodgers needs to bring in a player who is capable of starting immediately. You’re perhaps also looking at a left-back, but Alexandro Bernabei will feel he’s still got a lot to prove and looks like he knows it, too, if his pre-season performances are any indication. Greg Taylor also remains a more than capable first choice.

Prediction: Striker and left-back