Celtic legend Scott Brown is backing Sam Johnstone to start the Old Firm clash with Rangers after his first appearances for the Hoops during the week.
The veteran loan keeper was handed his first start against St Johnstone, with Martin O'Neill making five changes in a bid to get a look at some of his new players. The Hoops boss didn't like the overall results of the rotation, even with a 1-0 win, suggesting his side were not close to where he wants them to be.
Johnstone didn't have too much to do aside from a big first half save, and after the game, O'Neill made it clear that it was more of an experiment to get a look at Johnstone in action, rather than a decision to drop Sinisalo, who has been very good so far this season.
But that doesn't mean the change won't be kept for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup clash with Rangers. According to club legend Brown, Johnstone is more likely to start..
"I know Sam Johnstone's just in the door, but I do believe Sam plays," Brown said on Sky Sports.
"I think he put Sam in on Wednesday to show that he can still do it, even though he got cramp. I've never seen that before! But when he was called upon, he did really, really well and made some big saves.
"Look, I think Sinisalo's a good goalie, but at this moment in time, I do think Sam's probably a better goalie and probably better settled for these big games.
"Sinisalo's young. He's still learning. You've seen Colby Donovan, Dane Murray, Auston Trusty and even Liam Scales, quite young, as in the amount of games they've played and the Rangers vs Celtic games that they've played in.
"So I think that experience, and obviously being down in England, playing in huge games, will definitely help that back four. I think Cameron Carter-Vickers does come back in."
Brown is falling for experience trap
We have already covered this topic extensively, and the bottom line is that Johnstone came in and made a top save, but it was just one save. He still looks rusty with his distribution and couldn't see out a much less intense game than an Old Firm without getting cramp.
Sinisalo has handled some top games this season, and had he not bailed out Celtic over and again during the Champions League games with LASK, that would have been a much uglier affair.
It's not about who is young or experienced, it is about who is most in-form and in-rhythm, and that is clearly Sinisalo.
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