Brendan Rodgers set for key midfield decision against Salzburg

Brendan Rodgers will likely start Callum McGregor in place of Scott Brown in Thursday’s crucial Europa League clash with Salzburg.

The Scottish Premiership champions face arguably their biggest match of the season in midweek, as they look to reach the knockout stages.

A draw or a victory will secure that, but they will have their work cut out against a Salzburg side who have won all five of their Group B matches in 2018/19.

Despite his wealth of experience and enduring quality, captain Brown is set to miss out on Thursday night.

McGregor started in place of him in Saturday’s 5-1 mauling of Kilmarnock and Rodgers has hinted to Herald Scotland that that will remain the case this week:

I have compassion for players, especially those that have done amazing for me.

But what I don’t have is sentimentality. It’s clear that the level and the fluency of the team is there.

I have that compassion for players, but my job is to win games and to win titles. Those two (McGregor and Ryan Christie) along with Tom Rogic have been sensational in how they play.

I will sit down with my staff and have a look. I know what Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham can do. I know what the other guys can do too. I will pick a team to get the result.

It promises to be a nervy night for Celtic at Parkhead, with qualification to the last-32 an impressive achievement in a tough group.

To have someone of Brown’s calibre sat on the substitutes’ bench is testament to the squad depth Rodgers has built.