Celtic team v Rangers: Hint of key role for Japanese star at Ibrox

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it seems an apt sentiment when considering the starting XI that Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou could select for Sunday’s pivotal derby at Ibrox.

The cinch Premiership leaders sport a settled look, in contrast to his Rangers counterpart Giovanni van Bronckhorst. As a result the Australian doesn’t need to fry his braincells pondering his picks. Even if the encounter has an importance to it beyond any other faced by the 56-year-old since arriving in Scotland last June. No one will need tell him that victory in the fixture, which would put a telling six points between his team and their title rivals, would make Celtic difficult to dislodge from the league summit with only six games remaining.

A draw wouldn’t even be the worst result, but it can be rest assured that Postecoglou will send out his team to go for the jugular. The personnel to do that could well be the same XI that dismantled Ross County 4-0 a fortnight ago once Tom Rogic had been forced off injured. The health status of the playmaker - subsequently forced to withdraw from the Australia squad - is currently unknown. However, that may be a largely moot point with Matt O’Riley having deputised for him with distinction. That was also true of Celtic’s 3-0 thumping of the Ibrox men in the east end of Glasgow six weeks ago, where he formed a central three with Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate. There is no requirement to deviate from that trio, even if David Turnbull made his comeback from three months sidelined with a hamstring injury late on against the Highlanders. For Kyogo Furuhashi though, the match is expected to come too soon.

The interesting switch up that was witnessed a fortnight ago as Giorgos Giakmoumakis bagged a second hat-trick