Celtic are just three matches way from going the entire league season unbeaten. It sounds absurd to say, even in a league that isn’t as competitive as most others in Europe, but it’s true.
Along the way they’ve picked up a League Cup, they’re into a Scottish Cup final and they have thrashed their arch-rivals Rangers on multiple occasions.
All that and more in Brendan Rodgers’ first season in charge. Not bad eh?
There is one team left that can spoil it all though and that’s Aberdeen. Not only do the Dons host Celtic on Friday night, but will go head-to-head with the Hoops at Hampden at the end of May in that showpiece final.
Pittodrie is never an easy place to go and for Celtic it’s one of the last big challenges between themselves and history.
Having fielded a more experimental team last week, it’s time for Rodgers to return to his strongest possible line-up.
Here are four changes the Celtic Park boss must make if he’s to get a result against a determined Aberdeen side…
Sinclair in for Johnston
Michael Johnston barely put a foot wrong last week against St Johnstone, excelling for the hour he was on the pitch. Ultimately though you can’t deny Scott Sinclair is by far the most effective attacking midfielder at the club and Brendan Rodgers needs his best players on the pitch if they are to secure a result against Aberdeen.
Sinclair has been in lethal form this season picking up player of the year awards at both club and national level.
With 25 goals in total in all competitions, he actually has an outside shot of ending up the club’s top goalscorer for the season. With Moussa Dembele out injured and on 32 goals, Sinclair may be extra motivated to chase that total down in the four games remaining.
Regardless, he is the Hoops’ big danger man and must start on Friday night.
Gamboa in for Ralston
Only Scott Brown and Craig Gordon have started more games than Mikael Lustig this season and as such he was rested for the clash against St Johnstone last week. With the Hoops needing him at peak form and fitness for the Scottish Cup final, we see no reason to bring him back in for the Pittodrie clash although the Hoops likely need a bit more experience at right-back than the young Anthony Ralston.
Ralston was a stand out in that match against St Johnstone, playing the entire 90 minutes and receiving plaudits from his manager and supporters after the game.
Aberdeen away is a different kettle of fish though and Cristian Gamboa is more than able back-up for Lustig. The Costa Rican international has done a job when required this season and in a match where the Dons may seek to take the initiative, Gamboa’s pace and ability to counter-attack quickly could prove vital.
McGregor in for Rogic
Tom Rogic had a terrific first half of the season but in the vacuum of his three month absence, Callum McGregor has stepped up and made the attacking central midfield area his own. Rogic was looking back to his best for the most part against St Johnstone, starting the game and looking a menace in the first half.
However, it was when McGregor came off the bench to replace him that the Hoops clicked into another gear and the Scottish midfielder went on to score a beautiful mazy run goal to the delight of supporters.
That made it three goals in three weeks and he’s surely done enough to win a spot in the starting line-up at Pittodrie.
McGregor also offers more defensively than Rogic, always tracking back and tackling effectively. That could be key in what will likely be a big midfield tussle in the absence of Scott Brown.
Forrest in for Roberts
Patrick Roberts is arguably at the peak of his form in a Celtic shirt right now but in the rough and tumble of a Friday night fixture at Pittodrie, we see James Forrest as a more pragmatic choice on the right hand side of midfield.
Forrest has improved greatly in a defensive sense this season, finally putting the hard work required in to help his team out when out of possession.
It’s an area of Roberts’ game that isn’t the strongest and given Aberdeen may see more possession than Celtic are used to from the opposition, it makes sense to bring in a player who will do the hard work off the ball.
Forrest is no slouch in an attacking sense either and has proved consistent across the campaign.
Roberts coming off the bench could also prove to be a game changing moment should Celtic be struggling. When best to unleash the young winger than when legs are tired and space is opened up in the closing stages of the game?