Patrick Thistle v Celtic – Brendan’s Firhill selection dilemma

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The Celtic Star

·19 de setembro de 2025

Patrick Thistle v Celtic – Brendan’s Firhill selection dilemma

Sunday’s League Cup Quarter Final at Firhill throws Brendan Rodgers a dilemma perhaps only a top level manager truly understands…

The squad finally boasts depth across the park. Every position bar right wing is well stocked, and even there, workable options, just about, exist. But with the season about to kick into overdrive, the real question is, rotate, or ride the wave?

Celtic have enjoyed a rare seven-day rest leading into Partick Thistle, but including Sunday it’s a sprint. We’ve three games in six days, but then a five day gap until Braga at home. Red Star Belgrade away in the Europa League on Wednesday. Hibs at Celtic Park three days later. Then it is the relentless two-games-a-week rhythm, bar international breaks, well into 2026.

Vídeos OneFootball

On paper, momentum argues for sticking with the first-choice XI. They’re fresh, and also buzzing from the kind of injury-time winner at Killie that does more for belief than any 4-0 cruise does. That was an injection of energy, for us and the players.

But the bigger picture is unavoidable, Europe is simply vital. The coefficient is a mess, and every Europa League point is gold if Celtic want to avoid those nightmarish multi-round qualifiers the season after next.

The league remains the bread and butter, but European wins are almost as precious with that backdrop. We need to go deep, we almost have to win the thing to avoid that qualification round purgatory, and the attached reliance on a recruitment strategy and dealmakers that’s seen us fall at the qualifying hurdle seven out the last nine times we’ve attempted it, all due to a preparedness and strategy vacuum.

So, if I were in Rodgers’ shoes, and count your blessings I’m not, I’d risk it all. Rotate the lot. Trust the depth. Let the back-ups take care of a Championship side and keep the top guns sharp for Belgrade and Hibs.

St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Viljami Sinisalo. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Goalkeeper? Vil Sinisalo needs competitive minutes. After losing out to Kasper Schmeichel for the Scottish Cup final last season, he deserves to stay engaged. He’s vocal—a rare quality in this quiet squad—and this is a game he needs. I’d go further and make him the Cup choice all season. Yes, no matter who we play. The buy-in might stop him looking elsewhere, because this ‘keeper is, well, a keeper.

Colby Donovan at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Right-back is trickier. Colby Donovan will almost certainly start, but Tony Ralston or Alastair Johnston can’t return soon enough. Donovan’s run of games will test both mettle and stamina, but let’s hope Rodgers offers some injury progress today, because whilst the new kid looks good, he’ll need help.

Marcelo Saracchi at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Left-back? If Kieran Tierney is fit, wrap him in cotton wool anyway. Marcelo Saracchi probably gets the nod, but I’d be tempted to start Hayato Inamura just to see what he can do away from home, with Saracchi on standby. Perhaps Saracchi could also be utilised at right back until either Ralston or Johnston are available for selection.

In the middle of defence, it’s time to find out the truth about Simpson Pusey. If he’s overlooked again, those behind-the-scenes rumours will only grow. A cameo from Auston Trusty would also be a welcome boost. If not, Liam Scales faces three matches in quick succession. Our City loanee, with the expensive loan fee attached, JSP, should be thrown in alongside Dane Murray. Cameron Carter-Vickers sits this one out, no question.

Paulo Bernardo of Celtic vies with Shane Blaney of Livingston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Midfield? Total overhaul. Paulo Bernardo for Callum McGregor, Luke McCowan for Reo Hatate, Arne Engels for Benjamin Nygren. That’s real depth, so let’s use it.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Up front, the fun begins. Seb Tounekti has already logged serious minutes after his Hammarby spell, so give Michel-Ange Balikwisha his natural berth on the left. He’s been harshly judged after a debut at Ibrox and a second game out of position on a plastic pitch, so, time to see him in his comfort zone. On the right, start Yang, rotate James Forrest in later.

Yang at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Through the middle, Kelechi Iheanacho needs match sharpness, so give him an hour, then unleash Johnny Kenny or Shin Yamada for the final half-hour. Perhaps Kenny makes more sense given he’s in the Europa squad and Yamada didn’t make the cut. Yamada is the better option for me, but what do I know? Daizen Maeda? Tell him to take the day off, do a triathlon or something. It’s been earned.

Shin Yamada of Celtic. Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 23 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

Yes, it’s a lot of changes. Yes, Rodgers will probably field a stronger side. But this is a golden chance to get valuable game-time into players on the fringes and keep the main men primed for Red Star and Hibs. We haven’t won a treble in two years. Perhaps they’ve gone out of fashion, so why not embrace a bit of risk and excitement?

Firhill for thrills indeed.

What about you? Would you gamble on the squad players or stick with the first-choice XI to maintain momentum? Drop your team sheets and tactics in the comments—let’s see who’s brave enough to roll the dice, and no formation changes. That’s just cheating!

Niall J

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