PREMIERSHIP football is upon us once more and that means one thing - Celtic selection dilemmas.

With Jota only just back in training and Kyogo Furuhashi looking likely to miss out, Ange Postecoglou is without arguably his two standout performers for the visit of Hibs on Monday.

Who takes their places in the first XI? How many of Celtic's four January signings will feature in the squad? Is there now enough depth to exploit the five-substitutes rule change?

Our writers make their predictions...

Alison McConnell

There will be a welcome return to action at Celtic Park on Monday evening as Ange Postecoglou’s side look to get 2022 off to a winning start against Shaun Maloney’s Hibs.

Maloney’s two stints with Celtic will ensure a warm welcome but the biggest cheer of the night will be reserved for the new signings who have arrived at the club.

With Jota still a few weeks away from his return and Kyogo Furuhashi not quite match-fit, the likelihood is that there could be first-team debuts for Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

READ MORE: Leigh Griffiths and the Celtic 'what might have beens'

Maeda’s qualities appear to suggest he is a like-for-replace for Kyogo while Hatate’s versatility should offer something in the middle of the park.

Given the over-reliance in the opening half of the season on David Turnbull, Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor some reinforcement there will be welcome.

Regardless of chosen personnel, however, is the simple necessity of three points.

Celtic can ill afford to slip further behind in the title race and while there will be excitement at returning to the ground and getting a look at some new faces, ultimately it is about banking points.  

Alison's team: Hart; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Juranovic; McGregor, Hatate, Rogic; Forrest, Maeda, Abada

Sean Martin

There's so much going on for this one it's difficult to know where to start.

Considering it in terms of who is pretty much sorted for a start and then filling the gaps in from there seems as good a way as any so, with that in mind, I reckon Joe Hart, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic probably fit that description.

Beyond that it could be any permutation. My gut feeling is Carl Starfelt keeps the other starting centre-back jersey for now while Anthony Ralston will lose out to Josip Juranovic in the battle for right-back and I reckon two of the three signings from the J1 League will start too, with Yosuke Ideguchi the one to remain on the bench.

READ MORE: Celtic's midfield is shaping up but who will banish the ghost of Ryan Christie?

Jota's return to training is a boon for Ange Postecoglou but, on the presumption Monday comes too soon for his first start in over a month, it makes sense that the frontline will comprise James Forrest, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda with all three capable of switching roles within the game as required.

Even with a few still nursing injuries the bench options are starting to look a lot stronger - being allowed to make five subs will hopefully see that bear fruit from the very beginning of this league restart.

Sean's team: Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, Rogic; Forrest, Abada, Maeda

Tony Haggerty

Celtic will be buoyed by the arrival of their new Japanese trio as they face Shaun Maloney's Hibernian in a must-win Scottish Premiership clash. Not all of the Japanese stars will start but I fully expect to see Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda make their debuts. Two out of three ain't bad.

Ange Postecoglou will keep faith with the defence that has started of late and Greg Taylor will stay in his tried and tested position of left-back.

READ MORE: Celtic must embrace volatility and risk a more purified version of 'Angeball'

In midfield, Hatate will come for David Turnbull which means that Nir Bitton will be sacrificed at his expense.

In attack, there is still a question mark over the fitness of Kyogo and for that reason, the striker will not be risked.  However, I can see a fluid, flexible and interchangeable front three of Maeda, Liel Abada and James Forrest starting this clash.

All three possess the pace and wherewithal to unlock the capital club's defence. Returning striker Giorgos Giakoumakis will have to be content to come off the bench if he is to feature.

Tony's team: Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, Rogic; Forrest, Maeda, Abada