Celtic v Dundee – Predicted Hoops Team for Flag Day Opener | OneFootball

Tonight sees Celtic opening the new Scottish Premiership campaign against Dundee at Celtic Park, and with a near full squad to pick from, bolstered with couple of new additions, the supporters will be waiting with interest to see the first starting XI of the campaign…

New Celtic signing Kasper Hogh is unveiled to the mainstream media at Celtic Park. Photo Roddy Scott IMAGO / Shutterstock

With speculation also mounting over key players moving elsewhere, Martin O’Neill has quite the conundrum when it comes to selecting his first XI of the campaign. Here’s how I think that Celtic will line-up this evening.

In goals it’s an easy choice, with Viljami Sinisalo fully expected to start. Martin O’Neill is on the hunt for a new goalkeeper who will provide meaningful competition for the gloves but at the moment the Finland international keeper remains first pick for Celtic.

When it comes to the defence, Liam Scales is of course suspended for the first two games of the campaign after going through the booking threshold at the end of last season, and Auston Trusty has just recently arrived back at the club after his World Cup participation with the USA, so Dane Murray could well line up alongside the returning Cameron Carter-Vickers who will make his first competitive appearance in six months.

Or Martin may opt for Trusty if the American World Cup star declares himself ready to perform.

Alistair Johnston like Auston Trusty is not long back from World Cup duty, and with speculation over his future due to serious interest from Everton, with a deal said to be close, so I would say its unlikely that the Canadian will take part, with either Tony Ralston or Colby Donovan taking the right back berth.

Although my money would be on the latter, as he’s impressed in pre-season and seems to have caught the manager’s eye.

In midfield, it’s also doubtful that Arne Engels will start due to intensive interest from West Ham and other clubs, so we could well see a start for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who will now be fitter after a full pre-season under his belt.

Alongside the former England international will naturally be skipper Callum McGregor, with the fit again Benjamin Nygren making up the midfield trio.

In regards to the centre forward area, recently signed Kasper Hogh will likely start after a week of training with his new teammates, plus he’s been playing regularly for Bodo/Glimt in the Norwegian league which started a few weeks ago.

Celtic player Camilo Duran poses for pictures at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Thursday 23rd July 2026. Photo Andy Buchanan Shutterstock

Fellow new signing Camilo Duran has impressed in pre season, albeit it through the middle, but with Hogh the favourite to occupy that position, expect the Colombian to start on the right hand side of the attack, as being naturally left footed, he will be utilised on that flank.

On the left hand side we should expect Sebastian Tounekti to be deployed there to give us some extra creatively, and supply the ammunition for natural goalscorer Kasper Hogh.

Tonight’s predicted Celtic XI…

Sinisalo, Donovan, Tierney, Carter-Vickers, Murray; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, Duran Hogh,Tounekti

Regardless of how the team lines-up Celtic know that a three gaol victory will see us go to the top of the table in the first weekend. That would be lovely!

COYBIG

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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