NafisaMartin O’Neill has made a revealing admission about Kasper Høgh after Celtic’s frustrating 2-2 draw with Dundee United, suggesting the Danish striker may have been left frustrated watching his teammates produce an improved attacking display without him.
Celtic had been searching for a response after surrendering their early advantage at Parkhead, with O’Neill making two half-time substitutions in an attempt to turn the game around. Høgh and Callum Osmand were sacrificed as Jota and Haissem Hassan entered the action, giving the hosts more natural width and attacking threat.
The changes helped Celtic regain control, but the decision to withdraw Høgh raised an interesting question after the striker had played a key role in the opening goal. O’Neill has now acknowledged that his forward could understandably have been disappointed to miss out on the second-half opportunities.
With Celtic dropping points at home despite their improved performance after the interval, the manager’s selection decision could become an important talking point ahead of Sunday’s trip to Falkirk.
O’Neill Explains Why He Hooked Høgh
Celtic initially looked on course for a positive evening when Camilo Durán opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Høgh contributed to the goal by laying the ball into the Colombian’s path, helping the hosts establish an early advantage.
However, Dundee United responded with two quick goals before half-time, leaving O’Neill with a difficult situation to address.
The Celtic manager opted to introduce Jota and Hassan, hoping their ability to take on defenders and stretch the opposition would provide a different dimension to his side’s attack.
Explaining the decision after the match, O’Neill said: “I thought we needed it. Young Callum Osmand, his natural position is a striker or playing alongside somebody that’s got a bit of strength. I’ve been really pleased with him. But we made the changes.”
He then defended Høgh’s contribution, making it clear that the substitution was not necessarily a reflection of the striker’s overall performance.
“Kasper again I thought worked really hard in the match for us. He set up the goal for us as well too. But we just wanted a change and we thought we’re going to go wide with the two players who can take people on.”
The explanation suggests O’Neill was primarily looking to change Celtic’s attacking shape rather than punish Høgh for his performance.
Celtic Improve Without Their Danish Striker
The substitutions had a noticeable impact as Celtic began to create more problems for Dundee United in the second half.
Jota and Hassan offered greater width, with both players capable of taking defenders on and delivering dangerous balls into the penalty area.
Jota eventually provided the assist for Liam Scales to equalise in the 65th minute, giving Celtic a route back into the contest after their disappointing first-half collapse.
Hassan also delivered several threatening crosses, helping the hosts apply sustained pressure as they searched for a winner.
That improvement created an awkward situation for Høgh, who had contributed to Celtic’s opening goal but was now watching from the sidelines as the team found greater attacking momentum.
When asked whether the striker might have been frustrated at missing out on those second-half opportunities, O’Neill conceded: “That’s probably very true.”
The manager subsequently expanded on his assessment, again stressing that Høgh had worked hard and played an important role before his withdrawal.
“You know, he, as I said to you, he played a part. I thought he worked exceptionally hard for us again.
“One or two things that he tried maybe didn’t come off, but overall he’s made the goal. That will give him a boost of confidence. Yeah, and you’re right.
“So we put on two wide players and then I’m sure he probably was frustrated that he’s sitting and not playing a part in the second half.”
O’Neill’s words offer an insight into the possible disappointment experienced by the striker, although they do not establish that Høgh personally complained about the decision.
A Selection Dilemma Ahead Of Falkirk
The situation leaves O’Neill with a decision to make before Celtic’s next Premiership fixture against Falkirk on Sunday.
Høgh has demonstrated that he can contribute to Celtic’s attacking play, while his involvement in Durán’s goal showed the value of his work in the central areas.
At the same time, the second-half performance against Dundee United offered a reminder of what Celtic can gain from deploying natural wide players who are willing to take defenders on and deliver into dangerous areas.
Jota’s contribution to the equaliser provided a tangible reward for O’Neill’s tactical adjustment, even if Celtic ultimately failed to turn their improved display into three points.
The manager must now weigh up whether Høgh should return to the starting line-up or whether the attacking structure that helped Celtic recover against Dundee United deserves another opportunity.
The draw also underlined a broader problem for Celtic: improving after the break was not enough to erase the damage caused by their first-half collapse.
O’Neill will want his side to show greater consistency across the full 90 minutes, rather than relying on tactical changes to rescue matches after losing control.
For Høgh, the immediate challenge is to respond positively and continue contributing when opportunities arise. His involvement in the opening goal gives him something to build on, even if he may have wished to remain on the pitch for Celtic’s second-half revival.
Ultimately, O’Neill’s admission has added another layer to the debate surrounding Celtic’s attacking options. The manager believes the changes were necessary, but he also recognises why Høgh might have felt frustrated watching the team improve without him.
The next team selection will reveal whether the Danish striker retains his place or whether Celtic’s improved second-half shape against Dundee United influences O’Neill’s plans for Falkirk.
Nafisa
