Brendan’s squad utilisation crucial over three matches in a week

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The Celtic Star

·25 November 2024

Brendan’s squad utilisation crucial over three matches in a week

With a tough week ahead for Celtic, Brendan Rodgers must use our squad depth to our advantage, especially against Ross County on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park…

Nicolas Kuhn. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The next week or so will see us play out three fixtures as the season enters a pivotal phase. On Wednesday of course we welcome Club Brugge to Celtic park in what will be a very difficult game, and one we will have to put in plenty of effort and energy into if we are going to be victorious and collect three valuable Champions League points.

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No disrespect to Ross County

After that we will return to Celtic Park on domestic duty with a traditional Saturday kick off against Ross County.

No disrespect to The Staggies, but this is a game where we should be looking to rest a few key players after what will have been an energy sapping night less than 72 hours before. Especially with a tough trip to Pittodrie looming the following midweek.

Kyogo. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

We have the squad depth that’s not in question. Yes we may have struggled in previous games this season when playing the so called ‘second string’ players, but we don’t really have an option in my opinion.

Players like Cameron Carter Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels are clearly feeling the brunt of playing so many club and international fixtures. The same could be said of Kyogo, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda.

Plenty of Bhoys desperate to start

This should open the door for the likes of Tony Ralston, Liam Scales, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, James Forrest, Luis Palma, Yang, and Adam Idah to step up and fully prove they can compete with the players who stand in their way of a regular first team slot.

Brendan Rodgers. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

This is going to be a long gruelling campaign and we must use our squad depth to our advantage. The days of playing a settle starting eleven game after game are gone and no-one understands that better than Brendan Rodgers himself.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy