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Celtic return to cup action this weekend, taking on Alloa in the Scottish Cup at the Indodrill Stadium.
It is a game that the Hoops will take seriously, even though the league games after the cup tie are arguably more important.
Ange Postecoglou has already tasted cup success this season in the Premier Sports Cup, and he will want to add to his trophy cabinet in his first season in charge at Celtic.
The Hoops won’t want to be on the end of what would be one of the biggest cup upsets in a long time, which it certainly would be if they lost to the League One side managed by Barry Ferguson.
Celtic also owe the fans a good run in the competition after going out with a whimper to Rangers last season. The Hoops are the best team in Scottish Cup history, and the side will surely be eager put right some of last season’s wrongs.
Callum McGregor won his first trophy as Celtic captain when he lifted aloft the aforementioned Premier Sports Cup, and he will want to complete a double of domestic cup triumphs in his first season as Hoops skipper.
You would expect the Hoops boss to pick a fairly strong team for the game, and there is a danger that if you make too many changes there is a danger that the team could struggle to their unfamiliarity with playing together.
Celtic is all about winning, and after failing to win any trophies last season the Hoops have made a good start this season to getting silverware back to the club.
The Scottish Cup has provided some great memories for Celtic in recent years, who can forget Tom Rogic’s legendary injury time winner against Aberdeen to clinch the invincible treble in 2017?
That has to go down as one of the best moments in recent Celtic history. Hopefully more great memories can be created this season.
What Ange Postecoglou will be hoping is that Celtic score a few goals in the first-half to get the game done, and then he can start to make changes with Wednesday night’s trip to Tynecastle to play Hearts in mind.
That should mean that a strong side is selected, with perhaps one or two changes from the team that faced Hibernian in Celtic’s first league game back after the winter break.
It is always good to end the season with a Cup Final win at Hampden, and that will be Celtic’s goal for the Scottish Cup this season, which is why the club won’t be taking the trip to Alloa lightly.
