Celtic expected 4-2-3-1 v Rosenborg: One change from first leg in attacking reshuffle

COMMENT By Will Butcher

Brendan Rodgers is expected to make one change to his Celtic side to face Rosenborg in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night.

The Hoops have plenty of work to do after failing to take advantage of playing at home in the first leg, with Rosenborg’s defensive approach providing the stumbling block.

BBC Sport claim 26-year-old Leigh Griffiths has returned to training in time after suffering a calf injury to feature against the Norwegian giants, with the Hoops in need of firepower.

However, the Scottish Sun’s chief football writer Robert Grieve claimed on his personal Twitter account that he does not expect Griffiths to start the match.

Celtic lacked a striker last time out with Scott Sinclair playing as a makeshift number nine for Rodgers’ side, with both Griffiths and French wonderkid Moussa Dembele sidelined.

But Griffiths is only likely to start from the bench with Rodgers instead bringing Jonny Hayes in to replace new signing Oliver Ntcham and give his side more chance on the counter attack.

The defence is set to remain the same to face Kare Ingebrightsen’s side, with Craig Gordon in goal over Dutch stopper Dorus de Vries.

Mikael Lustig is likely to start on the right while Kieran Tierney is expected to be tasked with stopping prolific Rosenborg winger Milan Jevtovic.

Teenage defender Kristoffer Ajer should retain his place at the back following his man of the match display against Rosenborg last Wednesday, alongside Jozo Simunovic.

Stuart Armstrong is likely to revert to central midfield alongside captain Scott Brown, with Ntcham missing out in order to include former Aberdeen ace Jonny Hayes.

Rogic should feature in the number 10 role, while Hayes goes out to the left wing and James Forrest on the right, while Sinclair will lead the line once again if Griffiths does not start.

In other Celtic news, here are three Rosenborg players that Rodgers’ side must watch out for on Wednesday evening at the Lerkendal Stadion.

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