Celtic is set to play Dundee United away from home in their League Cup fixture on Saturday at Tannadice Park.
Dundee United vs Celtic – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 15th August.
- Kick-off: 5:45pm BST.
- Venue: Tannadice Park.
Dundee United team news
Dundee United F.C. manager Jim Goodwin is heavily tipped to rotate his starting XI following a devastating 4-0 thrashing against Hearts last weekend.
The Tangerines remain thin on depth as midfielder Miller Thomson continues to sit out due to a pre-season ankle injury. He is joined on the sidelines by defender Dario Naamo, who still lacks the match fitness required to return to the squad.
In response to their recent league defeat, Goodwin could introduce fresh talent into the lineup, with summer loan addition Yoro primed to step into the defense.
Furthermore, squad players like Panutche Camará, Zac Sapsford, and Mehdi Merghem are all intensely pushing for a starting spot to inject new energy into the side.
Left-back Kevin Ciubotaru is also in contention and could be handed his official club debut.
Celtic team news
Celtic F.C. heads into this cup tie forced to navigate around a major defensive setback following the injury of Alistair Johnston.
The crucial Canadian right-back faces several weeks on the sidelines, prompting young prospect Colby Donovan to step up and deputise in his place.
On a positive note, manager Martin O’Neill returns to the dugout after a minor hospital procedure, and defender Liam Scales is completely available after serving his domestic suspension.
The squad depth is further boosted by major summer arrivals Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan, who are both eligible and aggressively pushing to make their first-team debuts at Tannadice.
In the attack, in-form record-signing striker Kasper Høgh is primed to retain his spot leading the line following a stunning first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock last weekend, flanked heavily by attackers Benjamin Nygren and Yang Hyun-jun.
Form
Dundee United
Dundee United F.C. has endured an incredibly mixed and highly inconsistent start to their new season. The Tangerines showed great resilience during their opening fixture, fighting hard to secure a commendable 1-1 draw against Rangers. However, their early optimism was completely erased last weekend following a devastating 4-0 thrashing away at Hearts. Having leaked five goals already, Jim Goodwin’s side desperately needs defensive stability to rebound from that heavy defeat.
Celtic
Celtic F.C. enters the match in spectacular form, maintaining a perfect start to their domestic season. The Hoops opened their league campaign with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Dundee. They followed that up last weekend by delivering a ruthless 5-1 thrashed victory against Kilmarnock, inspired by Kasper Høgh’s hat-trick. Carrying massive momentum, the reigning champions have scored six goals across two competitive games, showcasing an incredibly potent, high-flying frontline.
Predicted lineups
Dundee United: Walton; Rawlins, Esselink, Iovu, Ferry; Sevelj, Tait, Camara; Merghem, Rose, Sapsford
Celtic: Sinisalo; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor, McCowan; Hassan, Nygren, Tounekti; Hogh
How to watch Dundee United vs Celtic?
In the UK, you can watch the Dundee United vs Celtic match live on Premier Sports 1.