Predict the XI: Celtic vs. St Johnstone (H)

Before every Celtic match, the writers at Read Celtic will role-play (not that kind) and give the fans a chance to get involved as well. We will be playing the role of Ronny Deila choosing the starting XI and how they should line-up on the pitch.

Think yours is better than any of ours? Tweet @ReadCeltic your XI leading up to the next game and you might be picked to have your say on Read Celtic.

Ruairi Daly:

(4-3-3) Gordon; Janko, Boyata Van Dijk (Ambrose), Izaguirre; Bitton, Rogic, Commons; Gary Mackay-Steven, McGregor, Griffiths

Preventing a European hangover is a must for manager Ronny Deila. Lustig should make a return to the starting line-up after missing out on Celtic’s exit from the premier European competition. Izaguirre should return to the starting team after Mulgrew was drafted in to be a defensive left-back but had a horrible night trying to prevent Malmo from getting the ball into dangerous areas from his flank.

The question will be whether Tuesday was Virgil Van Dijk’s last game as a Celtic player. If he is left out of the squad it would appear so and his exit from the club would soon follow. Maybe tomorrow afternoon’s game is his farewell in front of the home crowd before moving south to the Premier League.

Deila should give players who were part of the 3-1 last weekend at Tannadice another chance with Rogic and Commons pairing up with Bitton in his usual defensive midfield role with McGregor and Mackay-Steven out wide. Hoping Deila can give Allan his debut at Paradise and a good 30 minute run out to see what he can do. Without any other decent striker and Ciftci banned, Griffiths is likely to start again up top.

David Walton:

(4-2-3-1) Gordon; Janko, Boyata, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton; Armstrong, Allan, Mackay-Steven; Griffiths.

I think a reaction is something that shouldn’t just be expected by the Celtic fans after the Malmo disaster, but something that should be demanded. A home clash to St Johnstone is perhaps a game which many would urge Hoops boss Ronny Deila to give other players an opportunity to impress. After Tuesday’s dismal showing in Sweden, I would be sending the majority of the players out to face the music at what will no doubt be a half-empty Celtic Park.

Gordon should keep his place in between the sticks, and I feel Janko has showed enough in recent weeks to continue on at right-back as long as Lustig remains injured. With speculation mounting about the future of Van Dijk, I would still keep him in the side until he heads off, as he is no doubt our best centre-half. Boyata had a poor game in Malmo along with the Dutchman, and I think they should both be sent out to redeem themselves with a clean sheet this time around. One of the only changes I have made to the team is the replacement of Charlie Mulgrew with Emilio Izaguirre. Despite the Honduran’s slump in form in recent weeks and the fact he didn’t play against Malmo, I don’t feel as though Mulgrew adds enough to the left-hand side, and maybe lacks a little bit of the pace that Izzy has.

Brown and Bitton should both start, as they usually prove essential in breaking up the opposition’s attacks in Scotland. Armstrong only played 45 minutes of the clash in Sweden, and I thought he did okay, so I believe he should keep his place for the weekend. Mackay-Steven didn’t have enough time to be effective and seems as though he desperately needs games to get his confidence levels back up to speed.

I also feel this is the perfect game to give Scott Allan a start, not just because it is a game where Celtic will dominate the possession and should win comfortably, but it could also give Stefan Johansen a scare about where he lies in this team. The Norwegian has to know that his place is always at threat, as I feel he has become a tad complacent about his place in the team recently. Griffiths should start in order to continue his red-hot scoring spree in Scotland.