Brendan Rodgers has made four changes to the Celtic side that lost at Kilmarnock for today’s match against St Johnstone.
Tony Ralston, Maik Nawrocki, Odin Thiago Holm and LielLiel Abada drop out with Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales, David Turnbull and Yang Hyun-jun coming in to the starting XI.
It is the first start of the season for Johnston, Scales and Yang while Turnbull scored twice in the SPFL opener at home to Ross County.
Most attention will be in the centre of defence where Scales plays his first Celtic match in 18 months alongside Lagerbielke who is starting his second match since moving from Elfsborg.
On the Swedish defender, Rodgers told the Celtic website:
He’s a very mature guy for someone who looks so young. He’s up to speed in terms of games. He only arrived into the building and was thrown into a tough away game.
I’ve got no doubt he will prove over time to be an excellent player for Celtic. He’s really up for the challenge and I’m looking to see that development.
Despite losing last week at Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup Celtic have made a solid start to the SPFL campaign with two victories to put them top of the table, opponents St Johnstone have lost to Hearts and Ross County and sit in bottom place alongside Hibs.
Matthew MacDermid referees today’s match, his first Celtic match with Andrew Dallas on VAR.
Looking forward to the match Rodgers said:
We have to impose our intensity into the game and our work. Every game will be challenging but I’m looking forward to playing at home.
The first game was a great atmosphere and we’ve been away for a couple of games, but the chance to come back home and play and get back on track feels really good. I’m looking forward to a full house and we will be ready for it.
CELTIC: Hart; Johnston, Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Turnbull, O’Riley; Yang, Kyogo, Maeda
SUBS: Bain, Haksabanovic, Abada, Holm, Kwon, Iwata, Bernabei, Forrest, Ralston
