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Celtic‘s selection problems in midfield are quite remarkable. With injuries and international call-ups, the Hoops are down to four midfielders, and one of them, Matt O’Riley, has only just joined the club.
That is not the ideal scenario for Celtic’s trip to Tynecastle to play Hearts on Wednesday, in a game which the Hoops really have to win to keep the pressure on Rangers at the top of the Premiership table.
One of the players that is available for the game is James McCarthy, who has not featured for the Hoops that often this season due to injuries. However, you have to imagine that this is the sort of game that the experienced 31-year-old was brought to Celtic for in the first place.
McCarthy played for years in the top flight in England, so he should not be phased by starting in an unfamiliar Celtic midfield against Hearts.
He has made 15 appearances for the Hoops this season, which perhaps isn’t as many as Celtic would have hoped, but when you consider that McCarthy has had injury issues, then the number of appearances perhaps isn’t as bad.
At the moment it is not yet known if McCarthy will start against Hearts at Tynecastle against Hearts, but if he does it is the type of game that he should be looking to thrive in.
He could help the Hoops keep possession in the middle of the park, and constantly recycle the ball to his midfield teammates, and get the ball forward to the attacking players in the side. He could also if possible put in some tough challenges, like he did against Alloa.
Ange Posteclglou will have a big decision to make when it comes to potentially playing McCarthy from the start against Hearts. His last start for the Hoops came in the win over St Johnstone in December, but he did play 45 minutes of the recent win against Alloa, as he replaced the injured Callum McGregor in the Celtic side.
The fact that he has featured recently for the Hoops in the first-team shows that McCarthy must be under consideration to feature for the side in the game at Tynecastle.
McCarthy has yet to put in a definitive performance for the Bhoys in his time at the club, but he has shown in the past that he is capable of running a game from the middle of the park.
If McCarthy is selected for the game against Hearts, he can help the Hoops get the win that will keep the side well in the Premiership title race. It will be a test for the player, but he is more than capable of helping the Bhoys win a key midfield battle.
