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Celtic team news vs Valencia: Predicted line up – Tierney update, Rodgers hint as six out
CELTIC will be without Kieran Tierney for their Europa League clash with Valencia tonight (8pm).
Brendan Rodgers gives injury update for Valencia clash
Celtic are still without Kieran Tierney as they prepare to take on Valencia in their Europa League Round of 32 meeting.
The 21-year-old has been out since mid-December with a hip problem and is unavailable to face the La Liga outfit, although he has now returned to training.
Emilio Izaguirre is expected to deputise for the Scottish full-back, despite having missed the Scottish Cup win over St Johnstone with an ankle knock.
Tierney is part of the Hoops’ extensive injury list containing five other first-team stars, causing manager Brendan Rodgers a selection headache ahead of the tie.
Olivier Ntcham has a hamstring problem while Filip Benkovic, Tom Rogic, Ebou Kouassi and Anthony Ralston are also sidelined – leading the Celtic boss to hint at a defensive set-up against Valencia.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Rodgers said: "We are at the best level we could be at in terms of the start we have made to the second part (of the season) and also to the level of our game.
"The intensity is at a really high level and irrespective of our opponents that is what we always try to achieve in the game, in terms of pressing the game and playing at a really high tempo and have that throughout the 90 minutes.
"The idea is to be really aggressive defensively, strong and compact as a team and obviously look to be as creative and attacking as we can."
Celtic have won all seven of their matches in 2019 and are yet to concede a goal since the turn of the year.
However, the Hoops have never gone beyond this stage of the Europa League and come up against a side that has only lost four league matches all season.
Jeremy Toljan is expected to line up at right-back while Jozo Simunovic is available after illness and should partner Dedryck Boyata in central defence.
James Forrest and Scott Sinclair should start out wide in support of Odsonne Edouard while Callum McGregor, Scott Brown and Ryan Christie are most likely to get the nod in a midfield.
Celtic predicted line-up vs Valencia – Europa League
(4-5-1): Gordon; Toljan, Boyata, Simunovic, Izaguirre; Forrest, McGregor, Brown, Christie, Sinclair; Edouard