Nancy To Make One Change? | Predicted 3-4-2-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Motherwell | OneFootball

After a catastrophic four-game losing streak, Celtic are finally finding their feet under Wilfried Nancy, with back-to-back wins against Aberdeen and Livingston. While they remain vulnerable at the back, the attacking transitions and conversions up top should boost the Hoops ahead of their trip to North Lanarkshire to lock horns with Motherwell on Tuesday night.

The Well were enjoying a promising run until the previous gameweek, when Rangers scripted an edgy win, thanks to Thelo Aasgaard’s second-half strike. This has been the only goal conceded by Jens Berthel Askou’s men in their past seven fixtures, and their discipline at the back could frustrate the Bhoys at Fir Park.

Predicted 3-4-2-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Motherwell

Defence

A minor injury ruled Kasper Schmeichel out against Livi over the weekend. However, the veteran Dane is expected to return this midweek and replace Viljami Sinisalo, who was handed a rare start between the sticks.

LIVINGSTON, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 27: Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring during the William Hill Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025 in Livingston, United Kingdom. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Marcelo Saracchi have decimated Celtic in the defensive third. But the decision to deploy Anthony Ralston in the ‘back three’ alongside Auston Trusty and Kieran Tierney over another left-footed defender in Liam Scales has paid off as a temporary fix to their ongoing crisis.

The trio should keep their place and aim for a clean sheet, which the French boss has yet to attain since taking charge of the Glasgow giants. Besides Scales; Colby Donovan, Dane Murray and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey are there as alternatives across the backline.

Midfield

Yang Hyun-jun has impressed from the right, as he fired in against Livi in their dramatic 4-2 triumph. He must feature again as the wing-back, and so should Luke McCowan down the right, with Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha unavailable due to the ongoing AFCON. Veteran James Forrest could be brought in from the bench as a replacement for either of the wing-back pair.

Skipper Callum McGregor is expected to partner with Arne Engels deep in the midfield. Paulo Bernardo might get some minutes in the centre of the pitch as a second-half substitute. Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren must operate as midfield attackers, with Reo Hatate struggling to regain his starting status in the recent outings. Nygren’s brace on Saturday would jeopardise Hatate’s gametime, provided the Hoops do not suffer further fitness woes in the coming days.

Attack

Injuries to Callum Osmand and Kelechi Iheanacho limit the Celts’ ‘number 9’ options to Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada. The latter has hardly featured under Brendan Rodgers, Martin O’Neill, and now Nancy; thus leaving Kenny as the only viable choice to spearhead the attack against Motherwell.