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STRENGTH IN DEPTH WILL BE KEY FOR CELTIC AGAINST RANGERS

The derby is fast approaching and Brendan Rodgers and his backroom staff will have been preparing closely for tomorrow's trip to Ibrox to face Rangers.


The team were cheered off by a raucous crowd and a pyro show, with the fans reminding the squad just how much tomorrow means, with them being unable to show their support at the match due to no Celtic supporters being present at the ground.


Celtic are in a much better place nowadays than they were just a few weeks ago, something that John Kennedy touched on when speaking to the media after Celtic's victory over Livingston.


One of the key points that he touched on was just how well this Celtic team is coming together at such an important stage in the season.


With just a few games to go in Celtic's attempts to reclaim their cinch Premiership crown, they have been boosted by the returns of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate who have already made an impact on the team since their return, and Callum McGregor who looks set to play from the start at Ibrox tomorrow.


Add into this the plethora of players who are contributing to the team, it really shows the strength in depth that Celtic now have, a stark contrast to the state that the team was in just a few months ago.


The team have stepped up, and there are now a number of players who can make an impact from the bench when at points, you were struggling to identify any real difference makers on Celtic's bench.


Here are the 3 players that we think can make an impact for Celtic from the bench tomorrow at Ibrox.




Paulo Bernardo

Paulo Bernardo has been a player who has been hot and cold since signing from Celtic, with the Portuguese looking like a player who really thrives on momentum.


It looks like he is hitting form at just the perfect time, and we know the quality that the Benfica loanee can possess against Rangers as his ferocious strike opened the scoring on December 30th at Parkhead.


After scoring a brilliant solo goal against Livingston last weekend, Bernardo will be high in confidence should he be called upon at Ibrox.


Yang Hyun-jun

Another player who seems to really thrive off of momentum, a two-game suspension hasn't derailed Yang Hyun-jun's form on bit as he turned in another solid performance in his cameo from the bench against Livingston.


The South Korean is exactly the sort of player who can inspire some lift into a team that desperately needs it, and Yang could be incredibly effective as a fresh option from the bench running at tired legs late in the game.





Potentially Callum McGregor

Whilst most expect the captain to start if he is fit, there is still a possibility that McGregor is only fit enough to make the Celtic bench.


If that scenario arises, Tomoki Iwata has proven in his last few appearances that he can be a steady replacement for the captain, but having McGregor to bring on late in the game would be an incredibly effective option.


James McKenzie // @JamesWHMcKenzie

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