Martin O'Neill has spent the international break taking stock of Celtic's alarming slide. The veteran manager, who has masterminded some of the most famous results in the Hoops' history, now needs to devise a plan to drag the faltering Scottish champions back on track. First and foremost, he must settle on a system - and stick to it - that gets his players firing again.
Identity Crisis and Dressing Room Doubts
Celts are suffering an identity crisis, with murmurings from inside the dressing room suggesting some players are unconvinced by the message coming from the dugout. Cameron Carter-Vickers appeared to confirm as much when he claimed O'Neill's beleaguered squad has been reduced to playing without a script. Just weeks earlier, captain Callum McGregor described them as a "team of individuals" following their shocking 3-0 collapse at Ibrox.
For the first time in his storied Celtic career, O'Neill is facing serious scrutiny. Three straight defeats have piled on the pressure, while a fourth flop on the bounce is unthinkable for the 74-year-old as he desperately searches for a response. Sunday's trip to Fir Park has therefore taken on the feel of a must-win for the green-and-white legions.
Defensive Shake-Up and Midfield Calls
O'Neill has been guilty of tinkering at the back, but now is the time to put down some foundations and give his struggling side a settled spine. Newly-appointed Finland vice-captain Viljami Sinisalo is far from the finished article but should keep the gloves ahead of jittery loanee Sam Johnstone.
A familiar 4-3-3 should take shape in front of him, with homegrown talents Colby Donovan and Kieran Tierney occupying the full-back berths. Stalwart Carter-Vickers would normally marshall the defence, but the USA stopper missed training with a knock and is a serious doubt. That could see Auston Trusty paired alongside whipping Bhoy Liam Scales.
The middle of the park remains the Hoops' biggest headache, but for now, O'Neill can only work with the tools at his disposal. There have been calls for skipper McGregor to be dropped, but O'Neill needs his trusted general to help steer Celtic out of this perilous mess. Mika Baur will be as high as a kite after making his international bow for Germany and the little playmaker has been one of the few genuine bright sparks in a desperately disappointing campaign so far.
Attack Reshuffle and Predicted XI
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may feel he deserves a fair crack after falling out of the picture, but if Benjamin Nygren shakes off his illness, the Swedish playmaker will likely get the nod in the No.10 role. Record signing Kasper Hogh has endured a difficult run of form, but the ex-Bodo/Glimt goal machine wasn't brought to Parkhead to watch from the sidelines.
The £11million man should lead the line, with Camilo Duran sacrificed out to his unfavoured right flank. Yang is unavailable after picking up an injury with South Korea, so evergreen James Forrest could be handed a rare start.
Predicted Celtic XI: Sinisalo; Donovan, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Baur, Nygren; Duran, Hogh, Forrest.
