Celtic have confirmed their starting XI that will take on Blackburn Rovers in a pre-season friendly at Parkhead this afternoon.
Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate missed Wednesday's friendly with Banik Ostrava with a a slight knock and a return to training would beckon before this match. He's not made the squad though for their maiden match in Glasgow ahead of Premiership term 22/23 and striker Giorgos Giakoumakis also drops out, having scored in the friendly in Czech Republic.
Whether the pair miss out through injury or not is currently unknown. Postecoglou still names a strong Celtic XI regardless, with regulars like captain Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhasi, Jota, Liel Abada, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Joe Hart, Josip Juranovic and David Turnbull amongst those starting. New signings Benjamin Siegrist and Alexandro Bernabei will need to make their first Celtic Park outings from the bench in what is the club's fourth pre-season match in 10 days.
READ MORE: The Celtic no risk, no reward game plan Joe Hart and Co working on as Ange Postecoglou explains role
Their camp in Austria ended midweek with a quick pitstop in Czech Republic, but they had played friendlies against Wiener Viktoria and Rapid Wien prior to the Banik meeting.
Competitive action kicks off in a fortnight's time against Aberdeen on title day at Parkhead.
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Celtic starting XI: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Taylor, McGregor, O'Riley, Turnbull, Abada, Jota, Kyogo
Subs: Bain, Siegrist, Oluwayemi, Ralston, Jullien, Bernabei, Urhoghide, Lawal, McCarthy, Ideguchi, Johnston, Maeda, Forrest, Vata, Kenny.
Blackburn starting XI: Kaminski, Carter, Ayala, Wharton, Pickering, Travis, Buckley, Gallagher, Dollan, Diaz, Vale
Subs: Pears, Hilton, Magloire, Barnes, Phillips, Rankin-Costello, Edun, Garrett, A. Wharton, Hedges, Harlock, Markandy, Leonard, Butterworth
READ NEXT:
- Anthony Ralston shares special Celtic captain moment from pre-season win over Banik Ostrava
- Josip Juranovic addresses Atletico Madrid transfer talk as he makes 'big club' Celtic declaration
- Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou earns 'inspiring' tag from EPL boss once linked with role
- Celtic hero pictured at Banik Ostrava clash as Hoops round off pre-season trip on a high
- Ange Postecoglou in Reo Hatate update with Celtic boss 'buzzing' for Parkhead return
