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3 Celtic players at risk of losing starting spots for Kilmarnock clash

The Bhoys are back in action on Sunday
Celtic v Dundee - William Hill Premiership - Celtic Park
Celtic v Dundee - William Hill Premiership - Celtic Park | Andrew Milligan - PA Images/GettyImages

Celtic are back in action on Sunday when they face Kilmarnock in their second game of the season. The Bhoys narrowly beat Dundee 1-0 in their opener, and they now have their first away trip of the campaign.

Kilmarnock lost their opening game, a rather entertaining 4-3 result, so they will be looking to bounce back here. Celtic will be looking to step things up a gear, but their preparations may have been impacted this week by Martin O'Neill spending a little time in hospital due to a health scare.

Ahead of Sunday's game, we have taken a look at the starters from last week who could be at risk of losing their starting spots.

Alistair Johnston

Johnston is a clear starter when he is available, but it looks increasingly as though he will leave for Everton. The Bhoys are battling to keep hold of him, or at least to land a bigger fee, but the Toffees are closing in and not giving up on a deal.

There have been reports that Johnsotn wants a move to Everton and has asked the club for a move. You wonder how O'Neill will take to that, whether he is still willing to play Johnston, and indeed whether the right-back will continue to risk injury when he has a big money offer on the table.

The Canadian international has a serious injury last season, so he can be forgiven for having it at the forefront of his mind.

Yang Hyun-jun

Yang did not have his best game against Dundee, struggling to create any real danger down the left. Dundee were well-organised and played deep at times, so it was never going to be an easy job for a winger, but there just wasn't enough zip from Yang.

Again, that can be normal in the first game of the season, so it's not some grand verdict on what he can offer going forward, but O'Neill might just opt to change things up for the next game and give Yang an opportunity to come off the bench and make an impact that way.

Camilo Duran

It was a similar story on the other side. Duran looked a little sharper, but he did look like a player out of position, at times, which he was. Duran is a striker, and it might be better to get a look at him there, whether that comes in the form of a start or off the bench.

O'Neill has out-and-out wingers on the bench, and he may feel he is better served using those wingers.

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