13 games in 43 days: Why Celtic's hectic pre-World Cup fixtures could be season-defining

Ange Postecoglou's men will play 13 games in 43 days before Scottish football shuts down for the World Cup in Qatar.

During this period, the Hoops will be competing on three fronts, the Scottish Premiership, the Champions League and the League Cup.

Given the significance of these upcoming fixtures, it is not unfair to say that the next six-and-a-half weeks could be season-defining for the Parkhead side.

Building up another winning run in the league could go a long way to helping the champions retain their title, success in the cup quarter-finals would secure at least one trip to Hampden at the turn of the year and some positive results in Europe could deliver football at the highest level after Christmas.

There is plenty to play for - and Celtic will need to be at their best to achieve what they want to.

Squad depth is something that will come into play during this time period, as the ex-Socceroos coach will need to make sure no players are proverbially 'run into the ground'.

Injuries have already begun to pile up, though, with Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers both out for unconfirmed periods of time.

Players have also sustained knocks while on international duty, with supporters waiting with bated breath as to whether the likes of Sead Haksbanovic, Daizen Maeda and David Turnbull will be available going forward. 

Postecoglou will have to manage the resources he has at his disposal cleverly as the club tries to negotiate a tricky period of fixtures.

He spoke last December about how he works with his team during spells like this.

"We do our planning but after that it is really about being dynamic," Postecoglou said. "Being alert and treating every day as it comes because you can sort of pre-plan things in terms of squad rotation and rest and so forth - but you get injuries, loss of form and things you need to change.

"So what we are trying to do is and what I have always done is take it on a day-by-day basis - who looks good, who feels right for the next game and tackle that task and put a line through it and move on to the next one."

It is likely the 57-year-old will be taking the same approach this time around, given the quick turnaround in competitive games from October 1 to November 12.

They start at home to Motherwell in league action this coming weekend before making the trip to Germany to face RB Leipzig the Wednesday after.

Then it is a return to domestic duties when the Hoops take on St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday October 8 before the Champions League group stage beckons the following Tuesday again when the Bundesliga side comes to Parkhead for the reverse fixture.

A few days later, Postecoglou's men face Hibernian at home in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday October 15 and then it is straight into League Cup action when the holders go to Fir Park to take on Steven Hammell's team in the last eight of the tournament.

Soon after, the Bhoys go to the capital to take on Hearts in the league on Saturday October 22 and three days later they take on Shakhtar Donetsk in their final home group stage Champions League game.

Livingston beckons next as the Scottish champions once again return to league duty on Sunday 30 before a glamour tie awaits at the Santiago Bernabeu when the Hoops face Real Madrid on November 2.

Just 72 hours later, they take on Dundee United at home. The fixtures then conclude with another trip to Fir Park on Wednesday 9 and then a home game against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership three days later.

It will be an extremely busy period for Postecoglou's men but it will also be one the manager and players must relish as they look to make an impact both domestically and in Europe.

Celtic's pre-World Cup fixture list in full:

October

Sat 1 - Motherwell (H); Wed 5 - RB Leipzig (A); Sat 8 - St Johnstone (A); Tue 11 - RB Leipzig (H); Sat 15 - Hibernian (H); Wed 19 - Motherwell (A); Sat 22 - Hearts (A); Tue 25 - Shakhtar Donetsk (H); Sun 30 - Livingston (A).

November

Wed 2 - Real Madrid (A); Sat 5 - Dundee United (H); Wed 9 - Motherwell (A); Sat 12 - Ross County (H).

This piece is an extract from today’s Celtic Digest newsletter, which is emailed out at 4pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from The Celtic Way team.

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