NafisaCeltic had to dig deep at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon as Martin O’Neill’s side continued life after their devastating Champions League exit with a 2-1 victory over Falkirk.
The Hoops were still dealing with the fallout from Tuesday night’s extraordinary collapse against LASK, having surrendered a four-goal aggregate advantage to crash out of Europe’s elite competition.
O’Neill had warned that his players needed to put the disappointment behind them and respond on the pitch, and Celtic eventually did just that, although the afternoon also brought fresh concerns over two important members of his squad.
The team news immediately raised eyebrows when captain Callum McGregor and record signing Kasper Høgh were both absent.
Høgh’s situation was particularly interesting given that the striker had spoken to the media at Lennoxtown on Friday and suggested that the discomfort he experienced during the defeat in Austria was simply down to tiredness.
McGregor’s absence was less surprising, with the Celtic captain having been struggling with a stomach bug.
Martin O’Neill explains Celtic duo’s absence:
Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland before kick-off, O’Neill confirmed that McGregor was unavailable because of illness, while Høgh was being managed because of an injury.
The Celtic boss also revealed that the club were taking a cautious approach with Høgh because of the packed fixture schedule coming up.
“We’ve got seven games coming up in the next 22 days and it’s about managing the injury [Kasper] has. We’ll take it day by day. Callum [McGregor] is ill and Kasper [Hogh] is injured.”
That clarification will inevitably concern Celtic supporters, particularly after Høgh had indicated just 24 hours earlier that there was no major fitness problem.
The Denmark international was one of Celtic’s major summer additions and was expected to play a significant role in O’Neill’s plans this season.
With Celtic now facing seven matches in only 22 days, the manager clearly does not want to take unnecessary risks with his record signing.
McGregor, meanwhile, should have a more straightforward route back into the team once he recovers from his illness.
The midfielder is one of the most reliable players in the Celtic squad and rarely misses matches unless there is a genuine reason for him to do so.
O’Neill also addressed the wider situation at Celtic following the Champions League disaster.
“It was a devastating blow [on Tuesday] considering the position we were in. It has happened. We can’t do anything about it now. This football club, there’s times where a crisis seems to appear from nowhere.
“Maybe we might not have been equipped to have played in the Champions League. That aside, let’s go out there, try to play and try to win the game. This will be difficult. John [McGlynn] is a fine manager. For us, just go and play – throw the shackles off.”
Haissem Hassan handed opportunity:
O’Neill also explained his decision to hand Haissem Hassan a starting role after the winger arrived late into Celtic’s pre-season preparations.
“[Haissem Hassan] has come in late to the fray. A lot of players who played at the World Cup are trying to make adjustments and coming in at the end of pre-season. It would have been nice if he was absolutely up to speed, but he starts the game.”
Hassan ultimately justified the decision.
The left-footed winger operating from the right caused Falkirk problems throughout the afternoon, particularly when he looked to attack the outside and deliver balls into the box.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also impressed after coming into the side, providing Celtic with greater control in midfield while keeping his game relatively simple.
The biggest positive, however, was the result.
Celtic needed a response after the humiliation in Austria and secured a 2-1 victory, although the absence of Høgh means O’Neill will now be hoping his striker’s injury is nothing serious.
Camilo Durán stepped up in attack and scored twice, providing Celtic with a timely reminder that there is attacking depth within the squad.
But having Høgh back alongside him would give O’Neill another major option as Celtic prepare for a demanding period of fixtures.
The immediate priority will therefore be getting McGregor healthy and establishing exactly how long Høgh will be sidelined.
Celtic may have moved on from their European nightmare with three points, but O’Neill will certainly be hoping Saturday’s team news does not develop into another problem.
Nafisa
