As expected Ange Postecoglou has made three changes – the maximum number allowed at this stage – to his Celtic squad that will compete in the Europa Conference League with the round of 16 tie against Norwegian champions FK Bodø/Glimt.
Added to the squad are three of the January signings, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Matt O’Riley while the three players making way for them are Liam Shaw, Osaze Urhoghide and Ismaila Soro. Two of these three went out on loan in January window while Soro missed out on a loan move to Holland due to a paperwork issue. He’ll now have to sit out the Europa Conference League matches after playing in several Europa League games this season.
Albian Ajeti retains his place in the squad as does Vasilis Barkas and there is no place for Yosuke Ideguchi, who misses out due to the injury that he sustained in that horror tackle at Alloa in the Scottish Cup and also due to the fact that only three changes are allowed.
UEFA have updated Celtic’s European squad ahead of this month’s Conference League Play-off ties against Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt and it is further evidence of Celtic’s strength in depth and timely recruitment paying dividends. See the Celtic squad update here.
As mentioned above Celtic have been permitted to add three players to the European group at this stage on the proviso they replace three players who were previously registered. For Celtic that has meant the addition of January signings, Daizen Maeda and Matt O’Riley as well as our brand new ‘skelper Reo Hatate.
Those dropping out the squad to make way are Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw, neither of whom are at the club as both are out on loan at KV Oostende and Motherwell respectively, and Ismaila Soro, who was a work permit issue away from following suit.
Celtic v Dundee United – Ismaila Soro. Photo:Jane Barlow
There is no arguing Celtic face a tough play off encounter in the Europa Conference League. Bodo/Glimt have a home ground in the arctic circle, a notorious plastic pitch to contend with and a record for taking a big scalp or two on the way to impressive European results, as Jose Mourinho and his Roma side found out.
However Celtic on current form should be a match for anyone left in the Conference League and it should be a prize we set our eyes on as an achievable aim.
The fact the final in Albania is on the 25th of May also adds a touch of romanticism about our European campaign, and with three quality first team players added to the squad, at the expense of players who have featured less often than may have been expected this season, then Celtic now go into post-Christmas European football with a sense of excitement and even a level of expectation.
That a long-standing record of not winning a knockout European game after Christmas since 2004 can be something laid to rest at long last should also be an added incentive.
Celtic will make their debut in the Europa Conference League on Thursday 17 February when Bodø/Glimt visit Celtic Park (kick-off is 8pm) and the second leg of the tie is on Thursday 24 February at the Aspmyra Stadion in Norway (kick-off 5.45pm Celtic Park Time).
Celtic incidentally will have 400 supporters attending the away match inside the Arctic Circle against Bodø/Glimt.
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