Decisions, decisions – Brendan Rodgers to fill three spaces in his Celtic team

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The Celtic Star

·25 October 2025

Decisions, decisions – Brendan Rodgers to fill three spaces in his Celtic team

There’s now a big chance for Dane Murray to make the break through at Celtic, while JSP will be taking notice also with left-footer Auston Trusty the experienced option to play on the right of Celtic’s central defence with CCV out until the spring…

Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic on the ground with suspected injury at full-time. Final score Celtic 2 Sturm Graz 1. Celtic v Sturm Graz, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Celtic Park, 23 October 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

Cameron Carter Vickers has been ruled out for somewhere in the region offive months with an Achilles injury suffered in Celtic’s 2-1 Europa League win over SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on Thursday night.

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Whilst that bad news was the last thing we wanted to hear especially with injury concerns over Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho, not to mention Jota who is still on the long road to recovery from his ACL injury he suffered back in April at Tannadice, it opens the door to others waiting patiently on the sidelines.

Dane Murray scores Celtic’s third goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Most notably the likes of Dane Murray and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, both of whom are more effective on the right hand side of the defence.

Dane would be my tip to take CCV’s slot due to his impressive showings earlier in the season, with JSP’s lack of match fitness rendering his chances slim at best of walking straight into the first team, but the Manchester City man will surely see his first team chances enhanced as a place on the bench beckons.

Auston Trusty. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Auston Trusty will also be in the running for a more regular start as CCV’s fellow USA international teammate formed a solid and reliable partnership with Liam Scales in the credible 0-0 draw against Atalanta last year.

Although Brendan’s reluctance to play two partners with the same favoured foot might kibosh that idea, so to me it looks like it could be Dane Murray who is firmly in the driving seat to take his place alongside Liam Scales, and with some vital games coming up, it’s a massive chance for the big defender to make his mark in this Celtic side.

However it could be that tomorrow Brendan opts for experience and that could see a return of that Trusty and Scales partnership at Tynecastle. And I’d also look for Anthony Ralston being in the team at right back as the Celtic manager looks for an experienced back four against the league leaders.

Anthony Ralston. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Big choices tomorrow for Brendan Rodgers as he looks at filling the three gaps in his starting eleven on Thursday night and I reckon that Ralston, Trusty and Kenny will get the nod, assuming Daizen Maeda isn’t available of course.

Johnny Kenny of Celtic shoots at goal Celtic v Sturm Graz, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, , Celtic Park – 23 Oct over 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

Celtic striker options are limited to say the least after some world class transfer failings in the two transfer windows in 2025 with Brendan Rodgers still waiting for a Kyogo replacement since January.

Who would you play tomorrow? Ralston or Donovan? Trusty or Murray? And assuming Daizen isn’t fit, Kenny or Shin? The decision ultimately is Brendan’s and he’s paid the big bucks to get it right. He usually does.

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books