Mowbray mulls changes for Celtic´s Aberdeen trip

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray says he is not afraid of breaking up a winning team as he takes his side north to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie in their Scottish Premier League clash on Saturday.

The Hoops defeated Hearts 2-0 in midweek to reduce rivals Rangers’ lead at the top of the table to eight points, Celtic’s second win on the trot in what has been a troubled start to 2010 for the Parkhead club.

Mowbray has tinkered with his side several times this season and brought in eight new players in the January transfer window.

And despite his side’s good form in their previous two games the manager says he could make changes to his starting 11 for the match against the Dons, which could see Celtic reduce the gap at the top to five points ahead of Rangers’ clash with Hibernian on Sunday.

“We will study Aberdeen and assess how we are going to play and decide which players are going to play in our team at the weekend,” Mowbray said.

“It might be different to the one that played against Hearts. I will assess where I think they are strong and weak and we will pick the team to play against Aberdeen and try and get a positive result.

“I pick the team to beat the opposition in front of us. If I see a weakness in their team I pick the right player for the job. You are only vindicated if you win the game.

“You get criticised if you change a winning team, I understand that, but I believe in this philosophy and I’m going to stick to it.”

Mowbray has some injury worries to contend with for the match.

Central defender Jos Hooiveld missed the match with Hearts in midweek through injury and his defensive partner Glenn Loovens limped out the game.

With the departure of Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell in the January transfer window and injury to Darren O’Dea it meant the Hoops finished the match with teenagers Josh Thompson and Thomas Rogne in the centre of defence and they could be asked to pair up again at the weekend.

Aberdeen picked up a positive point in their midweek match against Hibernian and were unlucky not to get all three points after conceding a last minute penalty.

However their record at Pittodrie has not been good in recent weeks having lost their last two games at home. Loan pair Steve MacLean, who scored his first goal for the club in midweek, and Jim Paterson are available for the game.

Kilmarnock take on St Johnstone on the back of three straight wins under new manager Jimmy Calderwood and have the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents with another victory.

Dundee United will want to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Hamilton in midweek with an away tie to St Mirren, who are desperate for points to avoid a relegation battle. Hamilton and Motherwell clash in the Lanarkshire derby at New Douglas Park.

Motherwell will want to continue their ascent up the table under Craig Brown and are unbeaten in six league games.

Bottom club Falkirk will travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts with new manager Steven Pressley at the helm following the departure of Eddie May.

Since returning to the club last month Jim Jefferies is still looking for his first win as manager after three defeats on the trot.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v Celtic (1230)

Hamilton v Motherwell

Hearts v Falkirk

Kilmarnock v St Johnstone

St Mirren v Dundee United