Celtic’s Scottish Cup clash against Kilmarnock presents an opportunity for manager Brendan Rodgers to rotate his squad, and one of the players who could benefit is summer signing Viljami Sinisalo.
The Finnish goalkeeper was brought in from Aston Villa in the summer as a long-term option between the sticks, with an eye on eventually taking over from Kasper Schmeichel when the Danish veteran departs.
Schmeichel, who signed on a one-year deal with an option for an extension, has firmly established himself as Celtic’s No. 1 this season, but questions remain over when Sinisalo will get his chance to showcase his abilities.
Despite being a full international for Finland, Sinisalo has yet to make his first-team debut for Celtic. Rodgers has been reluctant to disrupt the settled rhythm of Schmeichel, particularly during the early months of the season when the Dane was bedding into life at Celtic Park.
Sinisalo was also overlooked in the League Cup earlier in the campaign, with Rodgers opting to stick with his more experienced goalkeeper. That competition might have seemed like the ideal opportunity to hand Sinisalo his debut, but the timing wasn’t right.
Now, as Celtic prepare to face Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, the question arises again: could this be the moment for Sinisalo to finally step into the spotlight?
On one hand, the Scottish Cup represents a potential opportunity for squad rotation, and Rodgers may feel this is the right time to give his second-choice goalkeeper valuable minutes. On the other hand, the opposition is Premiership-level, and Kilmarnock will be no pushovers.
Derek McInnes’ side has proven capable of frustrating bigger teams, and Rodgers will be wary of making too many changes that could disrupt Celtic’s momentum.
Rodgers has often spoken about the importance of maintaining balance and consistency, especially during a congested fixture schedule. Celtic have faced a gruelling run of games, and with key Champions League fixtures on the horizon, the manager might be tempted to stick with his tried-and-tested players to ensure no slip-ups in the cup.
However, the boss also has to think about the long-term development of his squad. Handing Sinisalo a debut in a high-pressure game against Premiership opposition could be a valuable test of the young goalkeeper’s mettle and an important step in his development.
If Sinisalo is to feature, Rodgers may look to field a strong outfield line-up to provide a safety net for the Finn. The likes of Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers provide leadership on the pitch and the quality in front of the keeper.
Whether or not Viljami Sinisalo makes his Celtic debut against Kilmarnock will ultimately depend on how Rodgers assesses the balance between the risk of rotation and the reward of developing his backup goalkeeper.
For Celtic fans eager to see the Finnish international in action, this match could provide a first glimpse of the man brought in as Schmeichel’s eventual successor.
But with Kilmarnock’s reputation for upsetting the odds, Rodgers may decide to err on the side of caution and stick with his first-choice goalkeeper for this cup tie.
