Celtic's League Cup Campaign Begins at Tannadice

Martin O’Neill is back on the touchline tonight as Celtic turn from league business to knockout jeopardy, opening their League Cup campaign away to Dundee United at Tannadice.

Fresh from a 5-1 dismantling of Kilmarnock in the SPFL last weekend, O’Neill has still opted to shake things up, making four changes to his starting XI for the 17:45 kick-off.

Liam Scales returns to the back line, while Sebastian Tounekti and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are drafted into midfield and attack. Colby Donovan also comes in from the start. Dropping out from last week’s line-up are Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, Kieran Tierney and Yang.

There is intrigue on the bench as well. New Bhoys Haissem and Hassan are both named among the substitutes, joined by Mika Baur, who completed his move to the champions during the week and is immediately involved in the matchday squad.

Celtic’s Team

CELTIC: Sinisalo; Donovan, Trusty, Carter-Vickers, Scales; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren; Durán, Tounekti, Høgh.

Subs: Doohan, McCowan, Hassan, Osmand, Baur, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Tierney.

A new cup campaign, a manager back in the dugout, fresh faces on the teamsheet – all the ingredients are there. Now it’s over to Celtic to show whether that 5-1 league statement was the start of a surge, or just a prelude to the real test that begins under the Tannadice floodlights.