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3 Celtic players with something to prove against Besiktas, including Callum McGregor

The Bhoys need to pick up a point or three here
ByJamie Kemble
McGregor can't seem to contain better opponents
McGregor can't seem to contain better opponents | Liam Chester/GettyImages

Celtic are back in action on Thursday night when they face Besiktas in the Europa League. The Bhoys are still in search of their first point at this stage of the competition, and if they cannot find it here, they will almost certainly be heading for an exit.

Besiktas are one of the stronger teams in the competition and already have seven points to their name following an unbeaten start. Ahead of the game, we have rounded up the three Celtic players who have something to prove here.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Carter-Vickers has been generally consistent this season, but he had a real nightmare on Sunday, producing two mistakes for the first goal and then arguably not doing enough to prevent the runner for the second goal.

That wasn't an ideal first start back after injury for the centre-back, and he will come into this game hoping to right the wrongs and prove himself as a Celtic starter, with plenty of buzz surrounding Dane Murray. This is going to be a tough task against Dusan Vlahovic, but it's also a chance for one of the Celtic centre-backs to make a statement.

Kasper Hogh

Hogh is unlikely to start, but whether he does or not, he needs a big performance. He has needed one since August, but these European games are what he was bought for.

Celtic spent £11million to bring in a player with experience of European football who could help them in big games. Hogh has to start providing that, whether it's with good hold-up play, physicality or goals.

Expectations are actually dropping at this point. The striker needs to start stepping up and producing.

Callum McGregor

McGregor just hasn't been good enough to compete in these sorts of games. He doesn't appear to have the legs to track through midfield or close the space between the defence and midfield when a second ball breaks.

He allowed a man he should have picked up to sprint through and score on Sunday, and it was another demonstration of the poor-quality play Celtic are getting from midfield.

McGregor will rightly argue that he should have better support as a 33-year-old who shouldn't be expected to be the agile pivot Celtic need. But that's not the case, and so the veteran needs to find a way to do a better job of thwarting the opposition, even if it's with more strategic positioning.

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