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WHY PALMA SHOULD RETURN TO THE STARTING XI FOR SCOTTISH CUP SEMI

Brendan Rodgers will have plenty of selection dilemmas to ponder over before Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.


In the Hoops' first trip to the national stadium this season, Brendan Rodgers will be eager to get the victory and put on a show whilst he is at it at a ground that he has never lost a game at.


He will be scratching his head with regards to who he drops out of the team for Callum McGregor, with the captain expected to return to the starting eleven after consecutive appearances from the bench to help him get back to full fitness.


Arguably the biggest decision the former Leicester City boss will have to make will be who plays on the wing for Celtic. The wide areas have been constantly chopping and changing for Celtic this season as injuries have been a constant in that position, with Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada and Luis Palma all suffering fairly lengthy injuries.


Maeda suffered a second lengthy injury of the season recently that ruled him out for the rest of the season, a hammer blow given just how much the Japanese international brings to the team.


However, the Celtic squad has been taking shape over the last few weeks, and the strength in depth has been helping the Hoops massively at a pivotal point in the season.


Given there is no room for error on Saturday, who starts on the wings for Celtic against Aberdeen at Hampden Park?







Right Wing - Nicolas Kuhn or Yang Hyun-jun

Nicolas Kuhn and Yang Hyun-jun have both shown in bursts over the last few months just how much of an impact they can make on this Celtic team.


Both are pretty similar players, possessing exceptional raw pace and a willingness to drive forward and cause some chaos for opposition defences.


However, in the last two fixtures, you could argue that both haven't really set the world alight. Nicolas Kuhn didn't make an impact against Rangers and whilst Yang helped Celtic get forward in a time in the match in which they were on the back foot, most pointed the finger at him for letting Rabbi Matondo past far too easily for Rangers' third in the 93rd minute.


Against St Johnstone, both had fairly quiet games, but Yang who was playing out of position on the left as opposed to the right was the better of the two, and Yang should return to his preferred right-hand side on Saturday.





Left-Wing - Luis Palma

The Honduran made his first appearance for Celtic since late February against St Mirren last weekend, and he was instantly involved in the action and unlucky not to have a goal with a spectacular long-range effort coming back off of the cross-bar.


Whilst he may be a bit inconsistent, of all of Celtic's currently fit wingers, Luis Palma brings the most quality to the Celtic team when he is at his best.


In a game like a cup semi-final where you have to take every chance that falls your way, having a solid finisher like Luis Palma in the team could be a difference-maker at Hampden Park.


James McKenzie // @JamesWHMcKenzie

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