McCourt starts for Celtic

Paddy McCourt was handed an immediate chance to prove he can help fill the void created by Aiden McGeady’s departure to Spartak Moscow as Celtic manager Neil Lennon started with the winger at Inverness.

On the eve of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener, McCourt had vowed to disprove Lennon’s claim the Northern Ireland international would never be as fit as his team-mates and he replaced Efrain Jaurez in the line-up.

Marc-Antoine Fortune also came into the team that beat Sporting Braga at Parkhead but failed to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League with Gary Hooper dropping out with a calf injury.

Inverness were able to field Jonny Hayes after he recovered from a knee injury but fellow Irish forward Richie Foran missed out with the same problem.

Defender Kenny Gillet made his debut but summer signing Gil Blumenshtein had to settle for a place on the bench.

Inverness CT: Esson, McCann, Tokely, Munro, Gillet, Ross, Cox, Duncan, Hayes, Odhiambo, Rooney.

Subs: Tuffey, Proctor, Golabek, McBain, Blumenshtein, Sutherland, Sanchez.

Celtic: Zaluska, Cha, Hooiveld, Loovens, Mulgrew, Maloney, Ledley, Brown, McCourt, Samaras, Fortune.

Subs: Cervi, Juarez, Misun, Ki, Murphy, Kayal, Forrest.

Referee: C Murray (Scotland)