Andy Walker and Barry Ferguson in disagreement over Celtic striker selection for Rangers clash
It has been quite the week for Martin O’Neill.
It started on TalkSPORT, questioning Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers over his Honda Civic comments. Just hours later, he was given the chance to replace him.
Rodgers’ resignation shocked everyone at Celtic, but judging from the extraordinary words used in Dermot Desmond’s statement, it didn’t shock him.
John Kennedy’s departure was equally as significant, as he has been a mainstay throughout several managerial changes over his multiple decades at Celtic.
But now, it’s up to O’Neill and Shaun Maloney to pick a winning team for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers.
Barry Ferguson and Andy Walker on Celtic manager Martin O’Neill’s team selection vs Rangers
O’Neill’s interim spell got off to the perfect start with a 4-0 win against Falkirk on Wednesday.
On a rare opportunity to start, Johnny Kenny stole the show in the first-half with two goals.
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Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
But with the presence of Daizen Maeda on the bench as he returns to fitness, it will be a huge call on who gets the nod to start in the derby at Hampden.
Andy Walker and Barry Ferguson were discussing it on the Go Radio Football Show, and had differing viewpoints.
Walker said: “I think the big plus for Celtic was that they had their main goalscorer [Kenny], their main striker, and he scored a couple of goals.
“So I think that will give him a big boost after not doing a lot at Tynecastle. He got the two goals the other night, and it must be a dream for anyone like that; someone who has never started a big game against Rangers.
“I think this will be Kenny’s opportunity to start against Rangers. Celtic don’t have a great deal of options. I know that Martin O’Neill was talking about Maeda, but I think he’ll go with the guy who scored two goals for him.
Ferguson then said: “I know what Andy said, but I think he’ll go with experience. I think he’ll go with the guys who have been the distance before, understand this sort of game.
“So I think he’ll go that way. The tried and trusted, that’s the words you would use to explain the changes. I think he’ll go with go with people who’ve been involved in the fixture, many times.”
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic team selection vs Rangers
The difference in performance between the loss to Hearts at Tynecastle and the Falkirk at Celtic Park was seismic.
Auston Trusty, James Forrest and Marcelo Saracchi were among the other players who came into the side for O’Neill’s first match.
How many will keep their place on Sunday? Forrest has rarely started two games in four days in his recent career, and a re-introduction for Reo Hatate could move Benjamin Nygren to the right-wing.
Anthony Ralston is also likely to keep his place after Colby Donovan started at Tynecastle.
