GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 11: Celtic huddle ahead of kick off during the William Hill Premiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has selected Camilo Duran and Sean McArdle in the Celtic side for today’s match against Middlesbrough.
It is a Celtic debut for the Colombian while McArdle will be looking to impress after spending last season out in the cold after playing as a substitute in two of the closing matches in season 24/25.
None of Celtic’s World Cup players are involved, some returned for pre-season training on Friday but even next week’s match against AC Milan may be too early for them.
Without Kieran Tierney, O’Neill has pushed Liam Scales out to left-back.
The lack of forward options sees Duran and James Forrest as the only recognisable players in those positions.
On the bench only four players started a competitive match. Of those it seems likely that Arne Engels and Reo Hatate will be sold before the transfer window closes.
CELTIC SHORT ON SIGNINGS AND OPTIONS
It took Celtic until July 10 to sign Duran, after a couple of days training he came off the bench to score against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
Over the last 48 hours Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi have announced that they won’t be returning.
That came soon after the troubling comments of Michael Nicholson to Irish fans surfaced.
A CEO that admits to having problems with agents is a major issue. One that is impossible to overcome.
In January Celtic brought in six loan signings. None were retained.
Vil Sinisalo was on media duties yesterday to preview the Middlesbrough match. Tellingly O’Neill was spared that chore.
After today’s match Celtic face AC Milan next Saturday in their final pre-season match.
Following that there is the SPFL opener on August 3 against Dundee. Looming large is the Champions League Play Off on August 18/19 and 25/26
CELTIC: Sinisalo; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Murray, Scales; McGregor, McCowan, Oxlade-Chamberlain, McArdle, Duran, Forrest
SUBS: Doohan, Gill, Balikwisha, Osmand, Engels, Bernardo, Ure, Montgomery, Hatton, Hatate, Turley, Haney, Kennedy.
The people to blame for this complete nonsense of a close season are those who automatically renewed their season tickets ….. what did they expect
McArdle is getting completely ruined by being forced to play out of position. The young lad who replaced him was a breath of fresh air. He obviously understands the role whereas McArdle doesnt. NOW I am not criticising the lad … more the management who are making him do something he cant do.