GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 19: Celtic's Camilo Duran celebrates after scoring to make it 3-0 during a UEFA Champions League Play-Off Round first-leg match between Celtic and LASK, at Celtic Park, on August 19, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill will spend the international break working on a plan to get the best out of Camilo Duran.
During that time the Colombian will be away on international duty.
It was a remarkable confession from O’Neill as he discussed the Europa League match against Ferencvaros.
The season is into its seventh week. Celtic have been knocked out of two competitions.
In the 36 hours before the UEFA deadline for signing players Celtic added six to their squad, four on loan plus one on a short term deal.
Joel van den Berg, the permanent signing has yet to play a minute for Celtic. He failed to make the bench at Ibrox on Sunday.
Landon Emenalo is believed to be undergoing treatment for his injury with Chelsea. The 18-year-old hasn’t played a minute of senior football.
All of those issues are concerning. As is the apparent lack of fitness among the players which was most obvious away to LASK Linz in the Champions League.
SQUARE PEGS AND ROUND HOLES- CAMILO DURAN
The admission on Duran however highlights a club without a strategy or plan.
The motivation seems to be to try and sign good players then find a way to play them.
Kasper Hogh and Duran scored 11 times last season in the Champions League.
Between them they barely created a meaningful moment at Ibrox on Sunday.
Shim Yamada and Marco Tilio could have carried a similar threat.
That is no criticism of Duran or Hogh, two great signings. Two strikers that should be playing in the Champions League
But almost pointless when pre-season is wasted and the opening matches of the season are an exercise involving square pegs and round holes.
So, supposedly we scputed Duran since january, bought him early July, we’re 2 months into the season & its going to take ANOTHER couple months to find a system that gets the beat out of him?!
Honestly, if you dont laugh you’ll greet. We epitomise the word amateur https://t.co/gZMAzzx4Xl
— Matty (@_mjoneill67) September 16, 2026
QUESTION: Martin, you’ve obviously confirmed there that Camilo is available, which is a big plus for you I’m sure. How difficult are you finding it to deploy him in the most effective manner?
O’NEILL
You’re asking this, he has played in a number of positions for us, I think his best position is either centre-forward himself or just off the centre-forward.
So it’s up to us now in the course of the next few months to develop ways, that’s what we’re there for, to develop ways to get the very best out of him if that’s the case.
Now it doesn’t mean that the whole team should just be making plans for just one player for him. It was never the case here way back some years ago when one of the great players, Henrik Larsson. Henrik Larsson never came into my room to ever ask about where he was going to play or what he wanted to do, as long as he was starting in the game that was what he wanted to do.
But that’s up to us, we’ll try and devise a way over the next few months to try and do that, so that the rest of the season, when this international break is over, that we try and find a way just to win football matches with our best players on the field.
Most fans would have imagined that pre-season training and matches is when you put together combinations of players and patterns of play.
Celtic were first linked with Duran on June 19 by the very reliable David Friel of The Sun. He signed on July 10, two weeks into pre-season training.
PRE-SEASON PLANNING?
The Colombian then played as a striker and scored against Sporting Lisbon, Middlesbrough and AC Milan.
On the back of selling Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Celtic then spent £1m on Hogh.
For the opening SPFL match of the season two strikers were signed for a side that plays 4-3-3 regardless of the near complete absence of wingers.
In most domestic matches the Square Pegs policy will get by.
Celtic face two very demanding matches over the next four days.
On Sunday at Ibrox Duran started on the right wing, at half time switched to the left then got a short run as striker before being substituted.
If the Colombian doesn’t play as a striker tonight Celtic will be handicapping themselves.
As a striker Duran needs supply.
Celtic have one functioning winger in Huissem Hassan.
In midfield O’Neill has to find a winning blend with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and van deb Berg out of tonight’s equation.
What should Celtic Fans Collective do with Not Another Penny?
CONTINUE- This is the main way to protest
SUSPEND- Let us see what Celtic Connect produces
ABANDON- No longer required or useful
Empty stadium…..it’s the only way.
And I get the whole “ the team will suffer” bit, but absolutely nothing else will get MN and his minions under enough pressure to get them to walk.
Empty seats every time the cameras are there just cannot be ignored by anyone, not the media, not the pundits, not the commentators and especially not the suits, whereas a big lump of supporters not buying socks is in the background, its hurting, but hidden, the suits can brass that out.
Either don’t go or there’s a mass organised walkout at half time or similar.
It really is the only way.
Good shout,bhoy 4,the team suffers anyway, regardless of full stadium or half empty,the team suffers because desmond and nicholson etc don’t give a fuck as long as money is rolling in and fans turn up to see the team, empty stadium would definitely send a message to this board who have never helped the managers build a decent side to compete in Europe,they are happy as long as we win the diddy SPFL one of the poorest leagues in Europe.Im not sure MON was right to take on the job ,it seems he’s desmonds yes man and of late seems to be struggling to manage a system that works ,his coaches are not much better either.