The ‘next game’ being all important is seldom true

Celtic have the best squad in Scotland, so with a hugely important League Cup semi-final ahead on Saturday, we should rest as many players as possible for tonight’s game against St Mirren.

St Mirren are a point above bottom-placed St Johnstone and in a clutch of five clubs within two points of the automatic relegation spot.  St Johnstone are only team they have scored against in their last five outings.

If the plan is give Ryan Christie the chance to reprise his League Cup semi-final exploits of last season, he should be rested in favour of Tom Rogic, who needs as much game time as he can get anyway.

Christopher Jullien played through an illness on Sunday, he too should be rested, Nir Bitton is more than capable of filling in.  This could also be the game for Greg Taylor to make his Celtic debut, allowing Boli Bolingoli to catch his breath.

Odsonne Edouard is one booking away from a Europa League suspension, so there is a reasonable chance we will start one of the later games in the group with Bayo in attack.  If this is in the post for the young Ivorian, let’s start him tonight.  I know football managers like to talk about the ‘next game’ being all important, but this is seldom true.