Celtic have defensive headaches as Tony Mowbray looks to youth

By Roddy Forsyth Published: 10:19PM GMT 19 Feb 2010

Attacking riches: Robbie Keane is one of a clutch of top strikers available to Celtic Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Having shipped out two of the three previous first choices in Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell, Tony Mowbray is now deprived of the third Glenn Loovens through injury, nor can he call upon his principal replacement, Jos Hooiveld, for the same reason, while Darren ODea is suspended.

The Celtic manager could opt for his lean, green teen machine of Josh Thompson and Thomas Rogne aged 18 and 19, respectively but given that United have already demonstrated the physical power of their forwards in winning 2-1 when the sides met at Tannadice in November, the selection of such a callow partnership would represent a colossal gamble for Mowbray, especially since his players must not lose any more ground to Rangers before next weeks Old Firm game.

Celtic profits tumble as reality hits Aberdeen 4 Celtic 4 Celtic aim to close gap Devine intervention after Old Firm game No panic at Celtic, says Mowbray Sport on television

Instead, he is likely to draft one of his full backs Thomas Hinkel, Paul Caddis or Mark Wilson into the heart of the defence, probably alongside Thompson. The concession of a 4-2 lead in last weeks 4-4 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie was not exactly a trauma but it did restate the difficulties Mowbray faces in trying to effect a wholesale reconstruction while also attempting to maintain a title challenge.

"The individuals in the side at the moment dont bring experience. They dont have the understanding at times of where to stand and when to hold the line, when to clear it," said the manager.

"They are young guys who are going to be very, very good footballers. They are on a steep learning curve at the moment, but it will be invaluable to them in the future, Im sure. You only get experience by playing."

Mowbray has also, however, been at pains to emphasise that the task of defending cannot devolve wholly upon the rearguard. "Look at some of the goals last weekend, they were set-plays, so its not just the defence, its generally defending as a team that we have to do," he said.

"As a side we have to show better concentration for things like second balls. If you break the goals down last week, it wasnt necessarily a central defender not doing his job a couple of the players were not alive enough to the secondary period when the ball came back into the box.

"So its a collective thing. Yes, we shouldve won the game at Aberdeen and if we had then won against United off the back of that, we would have gone into the game at Ibrox in a pretty confident mood.

"We shouldve seen out the game at Pittordie and won it quite comfortably, so a potential positive turns into a negative, but they are fine.

"If we win the game against United then well go into the Rangers game in a confident mood. I think the players know that we can score goals and enjoy lots of possession and get into goalscoring areas.

"We can give other teams problems. In an ideal world we would have more experienced players playing in the defensive areas but well keep going the way we are at the moment and if things conspire to go our way well create the opportunities to win the football match. We also understand from the game against United at Tannadice that theyve got an obvious threat from set plays. They have got big physical players."

United have changed coaches since that victory, with Craig Leveins assistant, Peter Houston, assuming command after the managers departure for the Scotland job, and having done sufficiently well to retain the position. Houston has also extended Leveins generally positive attitude to encounters like this.

"Celtic have added a lot of new faces since the last time we played them but I dont look into the opposition too much its more about how we approach the game," Houston said.

"We know were capable of getting a result if we do the jobs weve all got. Playing the Old Firm away from home is always the same because you know they will put you under pressure at times and youve got to stand up to that.

"The other side of that is when you get chances, you must make them count but these lads have scored goals there before and weve come back from 2-0 down in the not-too-distant past. So theres no fear factor for them. It doesnt worry me going there because I know if we play to our capabilities, well be OK."

Aiden McGeady is also out of the Celtic side because of suspension, but he functions in a department where Mowbray at least has options.

United will be reinforced by the return of their captain, Andy Webster, and Mihael Kovacevic is also back after undergoing a nose operation but the game comes too quickly for Paul Dixon, David Goodwillie is doubtful with a stomach problem and Francisco Sandaza, Lee Wilkie, Danny Cadamarteri and Scott Robertson are all out.