The Hoops spent record sums last year but Rodgers has yet to be bankrolled with any significant kitty this summer
Belgian playmaker Arne Engels could start on the bench again(Image: SNS Group)
The numbers might not add up for Celtic so far this summer.
But the Hoops did kick off their title defence with more than £20million worth of talent on their bench.
And it could be the same again this weekend as the champions make the trip to Pittodrie.
Brendan Rodgers has endured a frustrating window with Celts desperately short of attacking options.
Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo have yet to be replaced and alarm bells are ringing amongst the green-and-white faithful.
The Champions League playoffs are looming large, and as it stands, the Parkhead board are gambling a £40m windfall.
Club supremos left it late last summer, but they did eventually bankroll their manager with an unprecedented kitty – twice shattering their transfer record in a £30m splurge.
There’s still time to open the chequebook, but the clock is ticking towards the transfer deadline and, more importantly, the European squad D-Day.
For now, Rodgers will have to rely upon a threadbare strikeforce and a £9m signing in Adam Idah who has struggled to get going this summer.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers(Image: SNS Group)
Johnny Kenny – who yesterday penned a new four-year contract – made a cameo in the late 1-0 win over St Mirren, with Japan cap Shin Yamada an unused sub.
South Korean winger Yang failed to make any real impact, and that could see veteran James Forrest, 34, restored to the starting XI.
While he has few options up front, Rodgers does have an embarrassment of riches to choose from in the middle of the park – so much so that £11m man Arne Engels started the campaign on the bench alongside £3m midfielder Paulo Bernardo.
At the back, Auston Trusty had a solid pre-season but the £6m stopper appears to be behind Liam Scales in the current defensive pecking order.
Rodgers kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed on Friday on whether new signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey would be involved against the Dons after arriving on a season-long loan from Man City.
But it’s highly unlikely that the towering teenage centre-back will be thrown in to the deep end, having made just six senior appearances.
Predicted Celtic XI
Predicted Celtic XIProvisional squad
Goalkeepers
Kasper Schmeichel
Viljami Sinisalo
Ross Doohan
Defenders
Alistair Johnston
Anthony Ralston
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
Dane Murray
Liam Scales
Auston Trusty
Hayato Inamura
Kieran Tierney
Midfielders
Callum McGregor
Reo Hatate
Ben Nygren
Luke McCowan
Arne Engels
Paulo Bernardo
Attackers
Adam Idah
Shin Yamada
Daizen Maeda
James Forrest
Yang
Marco Tilio
Johnny Kenny
Callum Osmand
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