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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Ben Banks

Celtic squad revealed as Giorgos Giakoumakis targets Ross County starting berth

Celtic will be without Japanese midfield duo Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi when they travel to Ross County this afternoon - where striker Giorgos Giakoumakis will be desperate for a first league start of the season.

Kyogo Furuhashi was picked as Ange Postecoglou's leading man in attack as Jota and Stephen Welsh inspired a 2-0 opening day victory against Aberdeen last Sunday. Their first Premiership trip of the season takes them north to the Staggies who put on an impressive show against Hearts seven days ago, despite going down 2-1 losers.

Giakoumakis had to settle for the bench last week after missing some friendlies following the birth of his child, but will be keen to oust his Japanese teammate from the Celtic XI. Hatate has a few bumps and bruises that rule him out of this one after a week of rehab while Ideguchi is continuing to recover from a knock that sidelined him last weekend.

Carl Starfelt could return in defence though after Postecoglou confirmed he was available for selection again after his injury woes on Swedish international duty in June.

Ross County attacker William Akio is out with a knee problem but County boss Malky Mackay has a full bill of players to pick from otherwise.

There were some nerve-shredding moments for the Hoops in Dingwall last season, with a 97th-minute Antony Ralston goal needed to win 2-1 in one meeting.

Provisional Celtic squad

Ben Siegrist

Joe Hart

Scott Bain

Anthony Ralston

Josip Juranovic

Christopher Jullien

Stephen Welsh

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Moritz Jenz

Carl Starfelt

Greg Taylor

Alexandro Bernabei

Callum McGregor

James McCarthy

Jota

Matt O'Riley

David Turnbull

Aaron Mooy

Liel Abada

Kyogo Furuhashi

James Forrest

Daizen Maeda

Giorgos Giakoumakis

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