Celtic team v Raith Rovers: Callum McGregor, Christopher Jullien, Nir Bitton and the team Ange Postecoglou could select in the Scottish Cup

Ange Postecoglou can follow two trains of thought when selecting his Celtic line-up to face Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup last 16.

On the one hand he could mix it up, and give some of his fringe players – those he hasn’t loaned out – some game-time and rest some players on their busy schedule, on the other he may be loathe to disrupt a winning and impressive formula which the team has found in recent weeks.

Throw into the mix opponents who themselves are not a gimme and are chasing a promotion to join Celtic in the top flight next season and the manager has an intriguing decision to make on Saturday.

European ambitions

Celtic Manager Ange Postecoglou. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Celtic obviously have Europa Conference League football on the horizon with Bodo-Glimt in wait next week. That will have a bearing on the manager’s thinking, especially on the back of an exhaustive domestic schedule recently.

While ensuring progress past John McGlynn’s Kirkcaldy side at Parkhead will be a priority, doing so with the minimum of injury will be paramount, especially after the previous round in Alloa.

That night saw Callum McGregor and Yosuke Ideguchi injured and while both are now back in full training, it’s doubtful the captain will be risked given his protective facemask precautions recently.

That leaves the way for Nir Bitton to captain the side beside James McCarthy in midfield.

Nir Bitton and Albian Ajeti during a Celtic training session at Lennoxtown, on February 11, 2022, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

Celtic injury returns

While McGregor has already made his return, Yosuke Ideguchi is also now training with the squad after his Cup setback. He could be a midfield candidate but may have to make do with a space on the bench alongside Christopher Jullien, who is nearing the destination on the long road to recovery. Stephen Welsh may give Cameron Carter-Vickers a brief break and, all being well for Ange Postecoglou’s side, Jullien’s return could be completed from the bench later in the game with Carl Starfelt continuing in the centre for continuity after himself finding consistency.

Fringe benefits

Josep Juranovic’s eye-catching form has been great news for Celtic – unless your name is Anthony Ralston. The Scottish defender has impressed this season too – but he’s being kept out by the full-back’s recent form though can be expected to be given a game against the Rovers.

Anthony Ralston is expected to get the nod to start. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

Scott Bain may also be in contention for a game to maintain his match sharpness, and Albian Ajeti could be preferred in attack to Giorgos Giakoumakis with the Swiss still a target for teams playing in markets still within their transfer window.

Liel Abada could join the Greek on the sidelines with Jota preferred for the first-team continuity, given his recent injury off-load.

That leaves one more space in midfield and while Reo Hatate is the man of the moment, he is likely to be rested ahead of the UEFA game on Thursday and it may well be handed to Ben Doak, Mikey Johnston or more likely Liam Scales to start, with the former pair making an entrance from the subs’ bench later in the game, given the Cup’s new five substitutes rule.

Predicted Celtic line-up: Bain, Taylor, Ralston, Welsh, Starfelt, Scales, McCarthy, Bitton, Jota, Ajeti, Maeda. Subs from: Johnston, Forrest, Moffat, Abada, Ideguchi, Jullien, Giakoumakis.

James Forrest. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

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