The Celtic manager has named a strong team for the visit of the Romanian champions.
The full match squad is as follows:
Starting XI – Forster, Elhamed, Ajer, Jullien, Bolingoli, Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Christie, Elyounoussi, Edouard.
Substitutes – Gordon, Bitton, Sinclair, Bauer, Hayes, Rogic, Ntcham.
Having been defeated by the visiting side this season in UEFA Champions League qualifying, there’s a personal element to this group stage match tonight for Lennon and his players.
The Hoops had a strong matchday one away to Rennes, drawing 1-1, and now have the opportunity to show they are more than capable of progressing to the knockout stages with a win this evening.
Cluj themselves have had a dynamite start to the season, beating Lazio in their opening group stage fixture. Also sitting top of the Romanian top-flight, they aren’t going to be any easier this time around than in August.
Nonetheless, buoyed by a sold out Celtic Park, Lennon’s men will be expected to raise their game in a fiery European atmosphere and prevail come the final whistle.
No surprise then that the Hoops boss has named one of his strongest possible elevens.
The headline news is that Mohamed Elyounoussi comes back into the team despite being relegated to the bench for the club’s last two Scottish Premiership fixtures.
That allows Ryan Christie to take up a more central attacking midfield role, with James Forrest deployed in his natural position on the right.
It’s a decision from the manager that will likely go down well with his supporters.
Elsewhere it’s business as usual.
A strong defensive line of Hatem Abd Elhamed, Christopher Jullien, Kristoffer Ajer and Boli Bolingoli is the one that performed well against Rennes.
In midfield Scott Brown and Callum McGregor will be tasked with winning possession, while providing a balance between defence and attack.
The man leading the line is of course Odsonne Edouard, who will be hoping to extend his tally for the season beyond eight goals.
Can Celtic get revenge for the prior Cluj calamity and pick up a massive result?
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