Celtic have the chance to book their place in the SFA Cup final this afternoon as they take on Premiership rivals St. Johnstone in the semi-finals.
The Hoops are looking to defend their crown after last year’s dramatic 1-0 win over Rangers in the final, sealed by a last-gasp goal from Adam Idah.
Brendan Rodgers will be keen to guide his team to another trophy, with a domestic treble now firmly within reach—Celtic are closing in on the Premiership title and have already claimed the League Cup.
Despite a recent 1-0 defeat to St. Johnstone in the league, Celtic will enter this semi-final with renewed confidence following a dominant 5-1 win over Kilmarnock. Goals from Reo Hatate (2), Daizen Maeda, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Anthony Ralston secured an emphatic victory.
However, Rodgers may look to freshen up his starting XI by recalling Jota and Nicolas Kuhn.
Why Jota and Kuhn should return to the starting line-up
James Forrest started against Kilmarnock on the right wing but failed to make an impact—no goals, no shots on target, no key passes, and no big chances created. With those numbers, it’s hard to justify keeping him in the side, especially with someone like Kuhn waiting on the bench.
Celtic’s right-wing comparison – 24/25 Premiership
As the stats show, Kuhn has been significantly more effective in the final third, both in scoring and creating, making a compelling case for his inclusion.
Meanwhile, Jota should replace Idah, allowing Maeda to shift into a central role. Since returning to Celtic in January, the Portuguese winger has scored four goals, created three big chances, and provided two assists in just six league starts.
Idah, on the other hand, delivered a poor showing against Kilmarnock—no shots, no chances created, and no completed dribbles in 60 minutes. Jota’s form and flair make him the clear upgrade.
Rodgers should therefore shake up his attack by starting Kuhn and Jota out wide, with Maeda leading the line through the middle.
Why Maik Nawrocki should start in defence
Maik Nawrocki has been largely on the fringes this season, with just two Premiership appearances and one SFA Cup cameo. However, injuries opened the door for him recently, and he impressed in full 90-minute performances against both Rangers and Hearts.
Nawrocki’s recent displays:
These performances showcased his defensive solidity and composure in possession—qualities Rodgers values. The manager has previously described Nawrocki as “aggressive,” and his recent form supports a case for regular selection.
Trusty and Scales, while left-footed and more naturally suited to the left side, have each made costly mistakes this season. Scales has conceded a penalty and made an error leading to a shot, while Trusty has committed four errors that led to shots and one resulting in a goal.
In fact, Trusty’s foul led to the decisive goal in the previous loss to St. Johnstone after Nawrocki was dropped.
Nawrocki, in contrast, has made zero errors leading to a shot, goal, or penalty in 12 league appearances since last season—making him the safer, more reliable option.
Rodgers now faces a big decision: drop Scales and give the ever-reliable Polish defender the start he’s earned.
As well as Jota & Kuhn: Rodgers must unleash Celtic’s rarely-seen star
