It has been one battle after one other for Celtic this season, with the champions struggling one more setback amid damage information for Julian Araujo.
The Bournemouth loanee has been certainly one of Parkhead’s few profitable transfers this season since becoming a member of in early January, cementing his cult hero standing with jubilant scenes within the away finish of Rugby Park.
The 24-year-old appeared like the one mortgage signing price holding, a minimum of for the winter crop, however has now seen his brilliant affect brutally dashed.
The Mexico worldwide, who has been absent for the reason that Scottish Cup quarter-final victory at Ibrox, faces the sensible prospect of lacking the remaining video games in Glasgow.
O’Neill damage replace at Celtic
Araujo is anticipated to face a possible seven or eight week sideline with a thigh damage, a state of affairs that may successfully imply taking part in a minimum of his final sport for the Hoops this season.
It is not unimaginable that the right-back returns to coaching at some stage, however supervisor Martin O’Neill should cope with out him in the interim, inflicting additional frustration provided that Alistair Johnstone isn’t but able to return.
The Canadian just lately hasn’t performed since limping off within the Europa League sport towards Sturm Graz in October, however has steered he goals to be match and at full energy ought to the Premiership break up happen.
Nevertheless, whereas it’s encouraging that the previous Montreal man will return sooner quite than later, O’Neill additionally offered a constructive replace on Callum Osmund’s health standing, saying the Englishman’s return is “not too distant”.
“Callum is doing very well. I feel he needs to go. He is doing very well. I hope it isn’t too far off.”
This revelation comes alongside the information that each Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers stay sidelined for the season, with the latter’s absence having been a specific drawback this season.
Sadly, O’Neal’s greatest concern proper now will likely be filling the void left by Araujo, who additionally misplaced Colby Donovan final day out, forward of Johnston’s impending return.
Celtic might already signal a alternative for wildcard Araujo
Left-back is one space the place the Hoops are blessed with nice depth, with Marcelo Saracchi offering respectable cowl for Kieran Tierney on that flank. Kieran Tierney is Scotland’s star participant who presently tops the help rankings this season at Parkhead.
Parkhead bosses are in rivalry to signal Celtic’s subsequent Andy Robertson
Celtic are regarded as in rivalry with Rangers over a doubtlessly important signing this summer season.
Nevertheless, opponents Glasgow Giants will likely be with out Araujo and Johnstone, and there are additionally considerations about Donovan, who was compelled to withdraw from the Scotland Below-21 squad final week.
That leaves Anthony Ralston as the one possibility within the reserves, however the 27-year-old academy graduate has endured a troublesome season and was described by ESPN’s Andrew Miller as a “Kilmarnock stage” participant in the beginning of the season.
Celtic full-backs – 25/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
participant | sport | Aim (help) |
Tierney | 44 | 5(11) |
Saracchi | 20 | 1(1) |
Araujo | 13 | 1 (0) |
johnston | 5 | 1 (0) |
donovan | 26 | 0 (4) |
Ralston | 28 | 0 (0) |
whole | 136 | 8(16) |
An alternate, though it could be crucial so far as O’Neill is anxious, is to make use of Reo Hatate in a contemporary, everlasting function at right-back, transferring the Japanese playmaker right into a defensive place at Tannadice.
Such a change is actually not supreme, however as Hattate has scored one league aim all season and isn’t precisely capable of thrive in central midfield, this may very well be a much-needed change, permitting the soon-to-be-returning Arne Engels to take his place alongside Callum McGregor.
Hatate was additionally not unused as a full-back throughout his fruitful keep at Parkhead, with Transfermarkt recording that he performed there 4 occasions beneath supervisor Ange Postecoglou.
This resulted in a document of 4 targets and one help in that point, with two targets every within the 2022/23 season towards St Johnstone within the Premiership and St Mirren within the Scottish Cup.
Within the period of reversed full-backs, and in video games the place Celtic are prone to dominate the ball anyway, utilizing a flag bearer on the wing won’t be the worst concept and will give O’Neill’s aspect extra management over how possession unfolds.
As journalist Robert Grieve steered extra just lately, he was nonetheless “the very best participant within the nation” on the time, echoing the sooner opinion of Chris Sutton, who had beforehand hailed him as “Scotland’s finest participant”.
We’ve not seen sufficient of that high quality in midfield recently, however maybe a transfer to right-back may very well be the catalyst for a change in fortunes.
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