NafisaCeltic head into one of their most important European fixtures of the season with renewed confidence after their stunning 7-1 demolition of Hearts, but Martin O’Neill has been handed another selection headache ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Celta Vigo.
The emphatic victory at Celtic Park offered a welcome response to the Hoops’ disappointing run of results, with the attacking players delivering a performance that reminded supporters of what the team can produce at their best.
However, Celtic’s domestic resurgence must now translate into European results. Defeats against Ferencvaros and Benfica in their opening two Europa League league-phase matches have left O’Neill’s side under pressure to collect points, making the visit of Celta Vigo particularly important.
With fixtures coming thick and fast, the Celtic manager must balance the need for immediate results with the importance of managing players who are still recovering from injuries.
Unfortunately for the Hoops, two members of the squad are facing a race against time to return, and O’Neill has now confirmed that neither is expected to be available for Thursday’s encounter.
The first absentee is winger Yang Hyun-jun, who continues his recovery from injury despite making progress on the training pitch.
O’Neill had been asked whether the South Korean international would be ready to feature against the Spanish side, but his response left little room for optimism.
“The answer would be no, definitely not,” the Celtic manager confirmed.
“He’s doing well. He’s back on the grass, as they say now.
“But no, he’ll not be ready for a week or two yet.”
Yang’s continued absence represents a setback for Celtic as they prepare for a match in which attacking width and creativity could prove important. The winger has been unavailable while recovering from his injury, and although his return to grass training is an encouraging development, he is not yet ready to rejoin the matchday squad.
His recovery timeline also means Celtic are unlikely to see him return immediately after the Celta Vigo fixture. O’Neill will have to continue working with the attacking options currently available to him as the club navigate a demanding spell.
There is, however, some encouragement for the manager following the performance against Hearts. Haissem Hassan started and impressed, while Callum Osmand scored twice before being withdrawn at half-time. Jota also received more minutes after the break, and James Forrest entered the action late in the contest.
Those options give O’Neill alternatives in wide areas, even if Yang’s absence reduces the number of players available to him.
The situation is more complicated in central defence, where Cameron Carter-Vickers is also expected to miss the European clash.
The American defender has been sidelined with a hamstring strain and has missed Celtic’s recent matches against Motherwell, Benfica and Hearts. His importance to the team means his continued absence will be closely monitored, particularly with a demanding run of fixtures approaching.
O’Neill was asked about Carter-Vickers’ recovery and revealed that the Hibernian match could be the earliest realistic target for his return.
“Cameron, I think the earliest we’d be probably seeing him would be the Hibs game,” he said.
Celtic are scheduled to travel to face Hibernian on Sunday lunchtime, meaning Carter-Vickers is unlikely to feature against Celta Vigo on Thursday. The club will hope he can make sufficient progress to return for the domestic fixture, although his availability will depend on his recovery.
His absence leaves O’Neill considering his options at centre-back as Celtic prepare for a match they cannot afford to approach casually.
Dane Murray has started Celtic’s last three games while Carter-Vickers has been unavailable. Liam Scales also returned to the starting side against Hearts and helped create Kieran Tierney’s opening goal, providing another option for the manager.
Auston Trusty was left on the bench during Sunday’s victory, giving O’Neill an additional alternative if he decides to change his defensive pairing.
Celtic’s commanding win over Hearts will undoubtedly have lifted morale, but the challenge against Celta Vigo is likely to be different. The Spanish side will present a new tactical test, and Celtic need a disciplined performance alongside the attacking confidence they displayed in the Premiership.
After losing their opening two matches in the Europa League league phase, the Hoops cannot afford to let another opportunity to collect points slip away. Playing at Celtic Park should offer them a boost, but the team must turn that advantage into a result.
Yang’s absence removes one potential attacking option, while Carter-Vickers’ expected unavailability could affect O’Neill’s preferred defensive setup. Neither injury necessarily rules out a positive outcome, but both developments leave the manager with decisions to make before Thursday.
For now, Celtic will hope the momentum generated by their seven-goal display against Hearts carries into Europe. O’Neill has alternatives across both positions, and the performances of those stepping in could prove decisive as the Hoops attempt to revive their campaign.
The immediate priority is clear: find a way to beat Celta Vigo, collect their first Europa League points of the season and give supporters another reason to believe that the difficult spell is finally behind them.
Nafisa
