Celtic’s recruitment woes leaves Rodgers thinking outside the box

With St Mirren the first visitors to Celtic Park this campaign, Brendan Rodgers must now decide on the starting eleven that will begin the club’s title defence.

The goalkeeping department appears straightforward

The goalkeeping department appears straightforward, with Kasper Schmeichel expected to claim the gloves, while Viljami Sinisalo provides backup from the bench but is now pushing our veteran ‘keeper hard for his place, which is just what we want across all positions. But from there, things get more complicated—particularly in defence and out wide.

At left back a competitive return for Kieran Tierney would be both a popular and logical choice. His experience and attacking intent make him a natural fit for Rodgers’ system, despite the encouraging form of Japanese recruit Hayato Inamura during pre-season.

The right back slot is less clear. Tony Ralston and Colby Donovan have both had minutes over the summer, but with Alistair Johnston only recently returning from extended international duty with Canada, Rodgers may have a decision to make between easing the full-back in or trusting one of the pre-season regulars.

Who plays alongside CCV in central defence? Probably Trusty 

In central defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers would usually be a guaranteed starter, but his post-surgery recovery may not yet be complete. That may open up a route for a start for Dane Murray who has really caught the eye with some assured performances in pre-season and who seems to have developed a great deal physically.

That leaves a potential partnership of Murray or Carter-Vickers with Liam Scales or Auston Trusty—neither of whom firmly claimed the position during last season, but Trusty may have edged it based on pre-season performances. Selection across the defence may come down to match sharpness rather than long-term hierarchy.

A possible surprise in midfield due to the lack of wingers 

The midfield battle appears more stable. Captain Callum McGregor and the ever-reliable Reo Hatate will almost certainly feature, but the third midfield slot remains open.

Benjamin Nygren and Arne Engels are the main contenders, each bringing different attributes to the table. Nygren’s versatility may give him the edge—especially if Rodgers opts for a more fluid attacking setup – but is there is a chance both could play?

And that’s because the biggest unknown lies in the attacking third, where Celtic’s lack of depth in the wide positions is becoming a real talking point.

With Marco Tilio surely out of the picture, bar the possibility of a place on the bench, that leaves James Forrest and Yang as the natural wingers—both of whom have impressed enough in pre-season, but enough to demand a starting role?

Could Nygren start on the right and Daizen Maeda on the left?

This opens the door to a potential tactical shift. Could Nygren start on the right and Daizen Maeda on the left, with both tucking slightly infield to allow Tierney and (if fit) Johnston to provide width from full-back? That configuration would permit Engels to partner Hatate and McGregor in midfield and allow Forrest and Yang to be used later in the game, perhaps as impact substitutes.

Up front, new signing Shin Yamada may be in contention for a start. His pressing ability and physical presence could allow Maeda and Nygren to play closer to him in support, offering a more compact, interchangeable front three.

That said, Adam Idah’s familiarity with Rodgers’ system might still be preferred in the opener—particularly if the manager opts for a more conservative setup after an uncertain summer window, or if the manager having utilised Idah as a rotational option behind Kyogo and then Maeda last season, would be worried about the impact on Idah’s confidence going forward if he chose to utilise the Irishman behind a third Japanese striker this season.

Yamada arrives fit from playing in the J-League season

The other advantage to Yamada playing would be he arrives fit from the J-League season. However the other consideration is whether he arrives confident after a goalscoring drought prior to his move from Kawasaki Frontale.

Temptation to stick with the tried-and-tested is understandable

Rodgers then faces a choice between risk and reliability. The temptation to stick with the tried-and-tested from pre-season is understandable, especially on a high-profile day in front of a packed Celtic Park. But with concerns over creativity in the final third and a lack of clarity in the wide areas, Sunday might present the perfect opportunity for a bold tactical statement.

Whatever the decision, the first whistle of the new season brings more than just celebration—it marks the beginning of what promises to be a fascinating campaign, where every selection will be scrutinised, and every point will count.

It’s just a shame Celtic’s attacking recruitment already leaves Brendan Rodgers having to perhaps think outside the box.