Starting XI:
Sinisalo; Scales, Murray, Carter-Vickers, Donovan; McGregor (C), McCowan, Bernardo; Balikwisha, Forrest, Osmand.
Substitutes:
Doohan, Gill, Duran, Nawrocki, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Engels, McArdle, Ure, Bonnar, Montgomery, Hatton, Dargie, Hatate, Turley, Obidiwe, Charlton, Haney, Kennedy.
Martin O’Neill has named a fascinating starting XI for tonight’s pre-season clash with Sporting CP, while new signing Camilo Duran takes his place on the bench and could make his first appearance in Celtic colours.
Callum McGregor captains the side once again, with Cameron Carter-Vickers making another welcome start in defence as he continues to build his match fitness. Their presence provides leadership around a squad packed with young talent eager to impress.
The biggest talking point in the starting XI is undoubtedly Callum Osmand leading the line. The highly-rated striker has another opportunity to stake his claim ahead of the new season, while Michel-Ange Balikwisha is handed a chance to show exactly why Celtic brought him to the club.
The midfield is equally intriguing. McGregor, McCowan and Bernardo have the opportunity to dictate the tempo against strong opposition, with all three looking to build momentum before the competitive campaign begins.
There is also plenty of interest in the defensive unit. Youngsters Murray and Donovan continue their development alongside experienced figures Scales and Carter-Vickers, and performances in games like this can go a long way towards earning meaningful minutes during the season.
The bench is packed with quality, but all eyes will be on Duran if he gets the nod. Celtic supporters will be eager to see what the new arrival can offer, while Arne Engels, Reo Hatate and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also available to make an impact.
Pre-season is about preparation rather than results, but tonight offers several players a genuine opportunity to strengthen their case before the Premiership campaign gets underway. For Celtic supporters, it’s another valuable glimpse of what Martin O’Neill’s squad could look like in the weeks ahead.
