KASPER SCHMEICHEL is standing by for a surprise early return to first-team action when Celtic face Hibs at Parkhead tomorrow.
Viljami Sinisalo, 23, has been impressive in his six games since the 38-year-old Danish legend sustained a shoulder injury on international duty in March.
Now Brendan Rodgers must decide who gets the gloves against the Edinburgh visitors as the champions prepare for the Premiership run-in with just two other matches to go – against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in midweek and St Mirren on Flag Day in the east end of Glasgow next weekend.
And then the attention switches to the Scottish Cup Final against the Dons at Hampden on Saturday May 24 when the Hoops have the opportunity of sealing their sixth treble in nine years.
Pondering over the goalkeeper question, Rodgers said: “It’s been an interesting one because if Kasper had stayed fit, we may not have seen so much of Vil.
“In which case, we would have had a decision in the summer because he’s a very talented young goalkeeper.
“Then it would be a case of whether he would go out on loan to get that experience with a view to coming back and challenging to be number one.
“But, indirectly, the situation has really helped us and cleared up that thinking because he’s been excellent.
“He’s played with real authority and calmness for such a young goalkeeper. There was a big test at Ibrox last weekend and he came through that really well.
“So, I’ve been really pleased for him. Kasper, clearly, was our number one goalkeeper. He’s been brilliant for us all season, so it’s just really good to have him back and available – and we’ll just assess it from there.
“Over the course of the next three games and, in particular, the next two, there will be lots of changes – players who I want to give an opportunity to, players who deserve the opportunity to play, the opportunity to recover some because I think this our 55th game of the season.
“That’s a lot of games, but certainly over the course of the next week there will be changes in the team.”
The Easter Road outfit have recovered superbly from a flase start as the defeats mounted, but boss David Gray has turned things around with just one defeat in their last 19 league games.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “It was obviously very difficult for David and his team and the club right through until November.
“It’s sort of been like a reversal of Aberdeen. They had that brilliant start, but then the second part of the season has been a little bit more challenging.
“But since David changed the system in November when they went to a back five, that structure has really helped the team.
“You could clearly see the players believed in him as a coach and as a manger, but they weren’t getting the results at the beginning of the season.
“But now they had and they went on a fantastic run.”
The Hoops gaffer added: “In all fairness, when we played them in the Scottish Cup a number of weeks back, they arrived in that moment in a really good place.
“However, we played a really good game and we know we’ll to play another really good game because they have targets they want to achieve in these last three games.
“We also have targets. We’re at home, we want to bring our level of game and it should be a fantastic game of football.”
