HATEM ABD ELHAMED returns for Celtic tonight in their Europa League Group E encounter against Lazio at the Olympic Stadium after failing to start since the last match with the Italians a fortnight ago.
The Israeli international wasn’t included in the line-ups for the Premiership games against Aberdeen and St Mirren or the Betfred League Cup semi-final against Hibs on Saturday night, but gets the nod from boss Neil Lennon to face the Serie A cracks,
Boli Bolingoli was alrady ruled out – as CQN reported this morning – and Johnny Hayes gets the No.3 slot ahead of £2.25million Scotland defender Greg Taylor, bought from ilmarnock in the summer transfer window.
Christopher Jullien, who got the winner against the same opponents in the 2-1 triumph at Parkhead, and Kristoffer Ajer are in central defence with Scott Brown and Callum McGregor in their usual achorman berths in front of them.
James Forrest, Ryan Christie and Mohamed Elyounoussi provide the three behind Odsonne Edouard.
Craig Gordon, Greg Taylor, Nir Bitton, Scott Sinclair, Moritz Bauer, Lewis Morgan and Olivier Ntcham all start on the bench.
TEAM: Forster; Elhamed, Ajer, Jullien, Hayes; Brown, McGregor; Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi; Edouard. Subs: Gordon, Taylor, Bitton, Sinclair, Bauer, Morgan, Ntcham.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Lazio v Celtic this evening – only in your champion CQN.
