Celtic v Livingston – A match tailor made for Yang, Shin and Jahmai

Confidence in the camp will have undoubtedly taken a hit after our drab showing in midweek against Kairat, but we have to shake it off and keep going, there really isn’t anything else for it.

We don’t have injury problems to seek after the much highlighted injury to Alistair Johnston whilst both Adam Idah and Auston Trusty are ruled out through injury.

Tony Ralston will most likely deputise for the absent AJ and Austin Trusty would have undoubtedly started allowing Liam Scales to rest up, so it’s not really that big a dilemma for Brendan Rodgers in that department. We can expect to see Dane Murray starting perhaps alongside Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who would be making his Celtic debut.

Up top is a different matter altogether, and Brendan will have to decide if he wants to utilise Daizen Maeda through the middle, or turn his attentions to either Johnny Kenny, Callum Osmand or Shin Yamada.

For me it’s got to be Shin who gets the nod as he’s looked bright on his few appearances for the club so far, and he’ll be bursting a gut to impress the manager and the sixty thousand Celtic supporters in attendance. His cameo during the drab draw with Kairat suggests he’s tailor – made for a game such as today.

Livingston will in many ways similar to Kairat. They will make life tough for Celtic due to their predicable ‘park the bus’ approach, which means we will need players who are capable of stretching their packed defensive lines.

Players like Shin, and teammate Yang who also livened up proceedings from the bench midweek are the ones who can make the difference in a game such as this. Yang looked lively against Kairat, and with time creeping up on James Forrest we are in desperate need of fresh ideas. Jamesy showed in midweek that his role this season going to be as a super-sub and not as a starter.

Both Shin and Yang should start today and then it’s up to them to take their opportunity. In the middle of the park Luke McCowan offers a goal threat ad should also be in the starting XI for what will be a tough match.

If David Martindale had to create a wish-list for how he’d like to play Celtic at Parkhead then this would be pretty much a set of circumstances he’d select. In the middle of a crucial Champions League tie, with eyes very much on the must win second leg, Celtic missing key players and the squad weakened by an arrogant complacency in the Boardroom, three players dropping out through injury and the supporters planning a protest against the Board.

It’s up to Celtic to turn his dream set of conditions into a nightmare.

Play like we did against Falkirk – the other club promoted from the Championship last season – and we’ll have more than enough to get the job done.