Celtic v Buckie Thistle – Abada deserves a start on Sunday

Liel Abada is now back to full fitness, and the only thing he’s now in need of is some game time. Abada of course came on as a substitute against theRangers and St Mirren, and that would have done him the world of good, but now he needs to kick on and get some much needed match fitness.

That’s why for me he has to start against Buckie Thistle on Sunday. Daizen Maeda, Yang and Marco Tilio are all away on international duty, while doubts remain over the future of Mikey Johnston, and new signing Nicolas Kuhn is just in the building and is perhaps more likely to be a substitute on Sunday.

A fully fit Liel Abada for me is first choice on that right hand side, it’s no contest. So it makes sense that he starts against the Moray side to further boost his match fitness with some vital games coming up.

With Japan, Australia and South Korea all expected to go far in the Asian Cup, we could be without a few wide players until the beginning of February.

We have vital games against the likes of Ross County, Aberdeen and Hibs and we will rely on players such as Liel Abada to be fit and up to full speed and Sunday’s Scottish Cup match against the Highland league side Buckie Thistle can play an important role in getting Abada ready for the challenges to come.