Celtic take on Hibernian (again) in the Second Round of the Premier Sports Cup in Glasgow this weekend.

It is a case of déjà vu, as Brendan Rodgers’ side faced David Gray’s team last Sunday at Easter Road in the Scottish Premiership, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor. Though the home side rallied in the second half, the visitors were worthy winners seven days before this upcoming meeting in the League Cup.

With all of that being said, what team will Rodgers elect to pick for this match versus Hibs? The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each have their say…

Ryan McGinlay

What a positive week it has been for Celtic, especially off the park. To be fair, events happening on the park this season so far have been pretty good, too, with the club keeping two clean sheets and scoring 6 goals in the process. The main story surrounding the club at the moment has been Adam Idah, with more on Celtic’s number 9 later on in my team predictions. 

Speaking of predictions, I believe that a couple of changes will be made from the team that defeated Sunday’s opponents seven days prior. One of those changes will be in goals, as Viljami Sinisalo will replace Kasper Schmeichel in between the sticks for his debut appearance for Celtic this weekend. It will be interesting to see how this dynamic will work in the goalkeeping position, and whether or not Sinisalo will be deployed as the ‘cup keeper’ or not. I guess we’ll find out for sure at 1.45 on Sunday.

Elsewhere in the defence, there will be one change, as Alistair Johnston will be rested in place of Anthony Ralston in the right-back area, while Greg Taylor will continue on the left side. In the middle, Cameron Carter-Vickers and and Liam Scales will continue to feature as Celtic’s centre-back pairing, as no real competition threatens their positions – especially the latter.

In the midfield, there is a temptation to play the likes of Paulo Bernardo or Odin Thiago Holm, but I believe this will be the area of the park where there will be no changes. McGregor will skipper the side, supported by Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley, who continues to get linked with a move away from the club. Enjoy him while he is here is the unfortunate but realistic message I’d convey to you all.

Up front, the aforementioned Idah will lead the line for the first time since his return on Wednesday evening. I would have started him anyway, but the injury doubt to Kyogo Furuhashi makes this a no-brainer for me. Kuhn has got to start on the right, whilst Daizen Maeda will make his first start of the season on Sunday versus the Leith side.

Celtic to win this more comfortably than their exploits in the capital, with Idah to score at least a double on his triumphant return to the club.

Ryan’s team: Sinisalo; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O’Riley; Kuhn, Idah, Maeda

Tony Haggerty

Celtic have made an excellent start thus far with two wins from two Scottish Premiership matches and six goals scored with none conceded. 

The Scottish champions do look as though they mean business this season already as Hibernian provide the opposition once more. Last weekend's 2-0 triumph in the league at Easter Road was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests.

This weekend, all eyes will be on Republic of Ireland international striker Idah after he clinched his £9.5 million dream move to Celtic from Norwich City in midweek.
Rodgers went with continuity of selection in the capital last Sunday, but his hand may well be forced seven days on as he switches things up.

This is the ideal scenario to let understudy goalkeeper Sinisalo loose to allow him his competitive debut in front of a full-house Celtic Park. Granted Schmeichel has not had much to do in the two league games thus far but this is a good chance to see how the Finn copes in between the sticks.
Johnston is still nursing a hamstring niggle so Ralston will be deployed at right-back alongside Taylor at left-back with a central defensive pairing of Carter-Vickers and Scales.

In the midfield, the successful triumvirate remains in situ with McGregor who scored a stunner last Sunday, Hatate and the man of the moment O'Riley all being asked to replicate their respective rich early season form.

Up front, it's all about one man this weekend and it isn't Kyogo. The Japanese talisman has been excellent in both matches so far but has not scored a goal. Allied with the fact that he left the field on Sunday injured, Rodgers may not want to take any unnecessary risks at this early juncture of the campaign.

So, come on down Idah, the price may well not have been right in the eyes of some Celtic supporters, but he is here, and he is in the building. He will be granted his homecoming, and he won't disappoint. Idah to play through the middle with the impressive Kuhn who opened the scoring in Edinburgh last weekend on the right flank and Maeda on the left wing as he continues his journey back to full-match fitness. 

What price is an Idah hat trick? You heard it here first. Celtic to win by a lot.

Tony's team: Sinisalo, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, O'Riley; Kuhn, Idah, Maeda.