Celtic are back in League Cup action, as they face Falkirk in the quarter-final of the competition on Sunday afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers’ side dispatched of Hibernian last time out in this competition, whilst the visitors defeated Hearts 2-0 after getting through the group stage at the start of the season. With a trip to the national stadium on the cards, Celtic will be looking to defeat their in-form opponents, who sit top of the Scottish Championship at the time of writing.

With all of that being said, who will the manager elect to play in this big cup tie? The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty each have their say…

Ryan McGinlay

What a week it's been for Celtic thus far!

I think we’re all still buzzing about the club’s win against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, but all focus must now turn to the Scottish League Cup and Falkirk. After all, this is the trophy that the club ‘lost’ last campaign – they’ll be desperate to right that wrong.

With rotation firmly in my mind, I believe that Celtic will make a multitude of changes for this game. However, that will not be the case in goals, as Kasper Schmeichel will continue to play between the sticks as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. If Viljami Sinisalo was going to play in cup games, then he would have started versus Hibs a few weeks back.

There will be changes to the backline, as Alex Valle will make his Celtic debut at left-back ahead of Greg Taylor, with Anthony Ralston replacing Alistair Johnston at right-back. The only defensive starter from Wednesday will be Liam Scales, as Auston Trusty will take Cameron Carter-Vickers’ place to make his first start since joining from Sheffield United on Deadline Day.

The midfield will be rotated, too, though the captain Callum McGregor will keep his place in the base of the midfield. Paulo Bernardo will join him in the middle of the park, who can feel hard done at not starting the last two contests after a breakout performance versus Rangers. I’m going to throw in a curveball and say that Odin Thiago Holm will get an opportunity from the start. Let’s see what the Norwegian player can do, as he looks to make inroads into the first team.

In the forward areas, I'm predicting three changes, as Adam Idah will lead the line for Celtic, after scoring his first goal as a permanent player in midweek. He will be supported by his assister that night in James Forrest, as well as Luis Palma, who will be offered an opportunity to impress from the start. Here’s hoping he takes it, and puts Rodgers in a predicament ahead of St Johnstone away next week.

Celtic to win by at least three clear goals and book their place at Hampden for the semi-final.

Ryan’s team: Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; McGregor, Bernardo, Holm; Forrest, Idah, Palma

Tony Haggerty

Celtic boss Rodgers has to use this golden opportunity to rotate his squad. So, the $64,000 dollar question is how many changes will the Irishman make after the Champions League exploits in midweek?

The Scottish champions were sensational against Slovan Bratislava as they dismantled the Slovaks 5-1 in their opening Champions League league phase match. There will be a real comedown factor heading into this League Cup quarter-final tie against John McGlynn's in-form Falkirk.

However, Rodgers will rotate his team as he attempts to keep every squad member hungry and fresh for valuable game time. It is the ideal fixture in which to test the great strength in depth that Celtic are purported to have in their ranks.

The temptation would be to start with Sinisalo in goal but Schmeichel will keep his place between the posts. In defence, here is where it gets interesting as Rodgers will make three changes to the back four. In will come Ralston for Johnston, Carter-Vickers will make way for £6 million man Trusty who will be handed his first Celtic start. The American stopper will partner with Scales in central defence. Barcelona left-back Valle will also be handed his debut as he will replace Taylor.

The engine room will always be the cause for great debate. Hatate got the nod over Bernardo in midweek and it will be a role reversal this time with the Portuguese under-21 international replacing the Japanese international in the starting lineup. Man of the match against Bratislava and man of the moment Engels will retain his place alongside skipper McGregor. The £11 million signing from Augsburg is looking to make it three in three for his new club after coolly and confidently despatching two penalties in his last two outings for the men in green and white. Even at this early juncture, the Belgian international is looking every inch a player.

There will be a reshuffle of the pack up top as well with goalscoring talisman Kyogo - who bagged his 75th goal in Celtic colours on Wednesday night - making way for £8.5 million summer arrival from Norwich City, Idah. The Irishman finally opened his account in his second Celtic stint with a clinically taken goal in the Champions League and he will lead the line in this one. Idah's supplier for his strike was fellow substitute Forrest and he will also come into the reckoning after such an impactful cameo. He will feature on the right wing as the evergreen wide man will deputise for Kuhn who will sit this one out and be treated to a well-earned rest after such an explosive start to the campaign in terms of goals and assists. Both attackers will be ably assisted by Maeda on the left flank. The Japanese winger sets the tone for Celtic in terms of the press and he was excellent on Wednesday night and thoroughly deserved to get on the scoresheet. 

Despite the six changes, it could well turn out to be a long afternoon for McGlynn's high-flying Championship table toppers. Celtic to win by four goals at least and book a return trip to Hampden Park.

Tony's team: Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; Bernardo, Engels, McGregor; Forrest, Idah, Maeda.