Simunovic, Abd Elhamed, Christie And Johnston All To Start: Celtic’s Predicted XI To Face Cluj

Simunovic, Abd Elhamed, Christie And Johnston All To Start: Celtic’s Predicted XI To Face Cluj

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that Jozo Simunovic and Hatem Abd Elhamed will both be available to start against Cluj this evening. The pair missed the 5-2 win against Motherwell at the weekend due to injury.

Abd Elhamed’s return will allow Kristoffer Ajer to shift over to centre-back, meaning both Christopher Jullien and Nir Bitton could be dropped to the bench if Simunovic also comes back in.

In midfield, Lennon will almost certainly go with Callum McGregor alongside Scott Brown in the heart of midfield, with Ryan Christie likely to come back in to take up the number 10 role. Olivier Ntcham is expected to drop out despite his good form.

Mikey Johnston will probably replace Lewis Morgan on the left-wing for the game at Celtic Park. It will be a tough call for who will start up front, though. Leigh Griffiths is in fine form but Odsonne Edouard also came on to score at the weekend.

The Frenchman may just get the nod after starting the game against Motherwell on the bench.

Celtic’s Predicted XI To Face CFR Cluj:

Bain, Abd Elhamed, Ajer, Simunovic, Bolingoli, McGregor, Brown, Forrest, Christie, Johnston, Edouard

Predicted Score – 2-1 to Celtic

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.