Celtic Game: Donovan Set to Step In as Araujo Misses Out
The celtic game at Dundee United this Sunday will see Colby Donovan likely step in at right-back with Julian Araujo sidelined. Celtic travel to Tannadice needing three points to close the gap on Hearts in the Scottish Premiership title race. A win would move Celtic to within two points of first place.
Celtic Game: Predicted XI and key absences
The predicted lineup centers on experience and cover for recent injuries. Viljami Sinisalo is set to start in goal after mid-week developments left Kasper Schmeichel’s career essentially over following an injury sustained on international duty last year. At the back, Liam Scales will start with Auston Trusty returning to the squad; Benjamin Arthur is in contention for a place alongside them. Julian Araujo is seemingly out injured and unavailable, making Colby Donovan the likely right-back starter while Kieran Tierney returns at left-back.
In midfield, Callum McGregor is likely to be included, though his fitness remains a point of uncertainty; he would join Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate if fit. Hatate has faced criticism after an error that led to Motherwell’s goal in the previous match but is expected to be selected for Tannadice. Celtic arrive off a 3-1 home win over Motherwell in which Elijah Just opened the scoring, Tomas Cvancara converted a penalty and Yang added a brace. Dundee United come into the match after a 2-2 derby draw, with Ashley Hay involved in the late action that shared the points.
Araujo and the international picture
Julian Araujo’s club absence comes amid a separate national-team development: he has been left out of the Mexico squad this month. Araujo, 24, moved to Celtic on loan from Bournemouth in January and has been highlighted for match-winning contributions, including a 97th-minute winner in a 3-2 comeback against Kilmarnock and notable performances against Rangers. Born in California, Araujo was capped once by the United States in 2020 before switching allegiance to Mexico; he won his first cap for Mexico a year later and has made 16 appearances for the national side.
His omission ends a nine-month wait since his last inclusion in a Mexico squad and follows a period in which opportunities dried up while he was frozen out at Bournemouth. Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre had been watching his form in Scotland, but Araujo’s name does not appear in the current selection.
What happens next
All eyes will be on Tannadice for how the defensive reshuffle plays out and whether Celtic can secure the three points needed to sustain their title challenge. The immediate questions: can Donovan slot in at right-back without disrupting a back line that will include Scales and Trusty, and will Callum McGregor be available to steady midfield? Dundee United will hope to exploit any disruption after their derby draw, and Celtic must manage fitness concerns while protecting momentum gained from a recent 3-1 win.
Expect team announcements ahead of kick-off and further clarity on Araujo’s fitness and international prospects in the days after the celtic game. Coverage will focus on lineup confirmation, injury updates and whether a positive result puts Celtic within two points of first place in the Scottish Premiership.
