St Mirren v Celtic: A Midfield Battle in Paisley

St Mirren come into this one bruised in numbers, not in belief.

Craig McLeish’s side sit just two points off the top after an unbeaten league start, yet he walks into the biggest night of their season so far with his midfield stripped back.

Killian Phillips is out with a shin injury, only just close to returning to light work on the grass next week. Liam Donnelly’s abductor problem keeps him sidelined, Malik Dijksteel’s hamstring rules him out, and suddenly the middle of the park – the area they most need against Celtic – looks thin.

The long-term absence of Jonah Ayunga still hangs over the squad too. His recovery schedule means he will not be seen until January, a reminder of how long McLeish has been juggling resources.

So the reshuffle continues. Jacob Chapman is expected to start in goal, protected by a backline likely to be anchored by Alexandros Gogic and Henry Fieldson. The shape may be familiar, but the depth behind it is not.

McLeish’s team, though, have refused to blink in the league. They shook off a heavy League Cup beating by Rangers and responded with ten points from twelve. A wild 3-3 draw with Motherwell underlined their attacking threat; the tight, hard-earned 1-0 win away to Kilmarnock showed they can grind when the title talk starts to get serious.

Now they have to do both. Against the champions-elect in waiting, and with bodies missing where it hurts most.

Celtic patched up at the back, ruthless up front

Celtic arrive in Paisley with the table under their arm and bandages on their back line.

Martin O’Neill’s side have been perfect in the Scottish Premiership so far: four games, four wins, eleven goals scored, just two conceded. Aberdeen were swept aside 3-0, Falkirk were edged out 2-1, and the domestic machine has kept rolling even after the jolt of an extra-time exit to LASK in UEFA Champions League qualifying.

The problem is left-back. Again.

Kieran Tierney, Kasper Høgh and Callum Osmand are all out with thigh and ankle issues, stripping O’Neill of his natural options on that flank. Chelsea loanee Landon Emenalo, signed to bolster that area, has picked up a training injury and will not debut here.

Alistair Johnston is another defensive absentee, ruled out until October with a fresh problem, while Jota continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

The pressure finally falls on Liam Scales once more. He is expected to plug the gap at left-back, a familiar emergency solution in a side that otherwise looks ominously settled. Up front, Camilo Durán is set to lead the line again, spearheading an attack that has cut through Premiership defences with ease.

There is some good news for O’Neill. Late-window arrivals Joël van den Berg and Jordan Lotomba are both available and could feature, offering fresh legs and a different dimension if the champions need to change the tempo.

Form lines and fine margins

St Mirren’s league form gives this fixture an edge it has not always carried. Ten points from four, momentum building, and a home crowd ready to test the leaders under the lights in Paisley.

Celtic, though, have been relentless. Eleven goals for, two against, and no sign in domestic action that the European disappointment has dented their rhythm.

One side is patched up in midfield. The other is patched up at full-back. Both are winning.

Predicted lineups

• St Mirren (expected): Chapman; Ramsay, Gogic, Fieldson, John; Nsio, Carr; Mochrie, Taylor, Kabia; Agrafiotis
• Celtic (expected): Sinisalo; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Scales; McGregor; Hassan, Nygren, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hyun-Jun; Duran

Where to watch

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with Celtic defending top spot and St Mirren daring to believe they can drag themselves even deeper into the title conversation.

If the league leaders are going to be knocked off stride, nights like this – under floodlights, in a tight Paisley ground, against a side that refuses to lose – are where it starts.