PERTH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Celtic's Mika Baur celebrates with Kasper Hogh as he scores to make it 1-0 during a William Hill Premiership match between St Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park, on September 09, 2026, in Perth, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has admitted that he was caught out by the number of matches that Kasper Hogh has played.
The striker missed three recent Celtic matches but returned to the starting line up in the midweek win over St Johnstone.
The demands placed on players involved at the World Cup is getting some attention but Hogh is genuinely involved in a 17 month season.
When the 2025 Norwegian season ended Bodo Glimt were still involved in the Champions League.
Playing two matches in December, January, February and finishing up on March 17 away to Sporting Lisbon.
Bodo started their 2026 Norwegian League campaign on April 6 with Hogh involved in two Denmark international matches inbetween.
By the time that he joined Celtic the striker had already played in 18 League and Cup matches for Bodo.
KASPER HOGH- THE NEVER ENDING FOOTBALL SEASON
Reflecting on Hogh’s commitments the Daily Record reports O’Neill saying:
By the time we then come back from the international break, Kasper will be a big player for us.
In all honesty, I hadn’t realised how many games he had played prior to joining us due to how the season works over in Norway.
Hogh is likely to be named in the Danish squad for the September/October international matches.
With no winter break he could be required all the way through until May.
That is clearly a daunting schedule for any player, especially one as physically committed as Hogh.
Fortunately O’Neill also has Camilo Duran and Shim Mheuka to call on.
Which is quite a contrast to a year ago when the striker options were Kelechi Iheanacho. Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada.
The solution to that was mainly to play Daizen Maeda at centre forward.
So far Hogh has ‘only’ scored in one Celtic match, a hat-trick away to Kilmarnock. His all round play, hold up work and linking with others mean that he is more than a goal-scorer or poacher. His scoring record, domestically and in Europe confirms that.
CLICK HERE for Hogh’s demanding 2026 playing schedule.
The thing is we paid £11 million for a regular goalSCORER we have players to do all the other stuff
We paid for a guy to finish moves off not to be involved in the build up
Editor: And there is a very good chance that he will hit 20 plus. Certainly more chance than Ajeti, Bayo, Klimala or any of the other recent club strikers.