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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Steven Mair

Celtic lineup v Aberdeen predicted as striker rotation could headline dead rubber replacements

Celtic interim boss John Kennedy knows he might only have a few games left as the club's manager and he'll see the remaining post-split games as a chance to give some players an audition for next season.

That starts with Wednesday night's trip to face Aberdeen and James Forrest will again miss out after he was injured for the derby defeat to Rangers at the weekend.

Same goes for winger Mikey Johnston, but midfielder Tom Rogic is available.

Kennedy insists there's room for changes after such a disappointing end to the season.

He said: "We’ll make some changes in the coming games but with a consistency to go out to win the games and represent the club properly."

Odsonne Edouard is likely to leave the club this season and it wouldn't make much sense to use him extensively in the dead-rubber run-in with the title ceded.

And Kennedy might wish to give other players game time over loanees like Diego Laxalt and Jonjoe Kenny, both very poor against the champions.

Scott Bain should retain his place in goal, likewise Kris Ajer and Stephen Welsh at the heart of defence.

Greg Taylor was sidelined in favour of Laxalt on Sunday but he could come back in at left-back.

Kennedy could stick with the 4-3-3 system or alter it in favour of a midfield diamond that was deployed to reasonable success by predecessor Neil Lennon in order to fit David Turnbull and Rogic together. If not, one is likely to be sidelined in favour of Ryan Christie on the right, while Scott Brown will take on his future club alongside Callum McGregor.

Albian Ajeti is here to stay at Celtic and he's struggled badly for starts in recent months - it makes perfect sense to bring him in against the Dons.

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