25th October 2026; Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic; Alex Oxlade Chamberlain of Celtic and Cameron Carter Vickers of Celtic chat on the pitch
The mystery of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s status at Celtic has deepened.
On Tuesday Martin O’Neill held two media conferences. One with broadcast media, the other with Celtic’s media partners, daily newspapers.
Interestingly some relevant questions were asked.
During the broadcast conference O’Neill was asked about Joel van den Berg, back in training with no playing timeline offered.
Yang Hyun-jun? Training again next week which coincides with the start of another international break.
Alistair Johnston’s hamstring issues were discussed in great detail.
But there were no questions asked about Oxlade Chamberlain.
The highly experienced yet grossly underused midfielder, handed a 12 month contract in July, presumably to be involved in the heavy run of fixtures Celtic face.
Reacting to his new contract, on July 4 Oxlaid-Chamberlain told the Celtic website:
I’m delighted to be staying at Celtic for another year. It was an incredible time last season and to be part of that success in winning the league and Scottish Cup was so special.
I’m really excited to be back and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the boys and getting to work ahead of what will hopefully be another successful season.
Tellingly there was no comment from O’Neill on his first summer signing.
The Ox has started two matches this season. On August 29 and September 2 he started back to back matches against Aberdeen and Falkirk.
Most accounts will credit the Ox with playing well, being influential. He looked sharper than last season, getting the benefit of some pre-season training.
Since then it has been thin pickings.
THE MIDFIELD PROBLEM AT CELTIC
Celtic’s midfield simply doesn’t function in the bigger matches.
Oliver Sorenson started the matches against Ferencvaros and Benfica then quickly disappeared.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was suspended for the Ferencvaros match but failed to start against Benfica or Celta Vigo.
With all of his experience to draw on the Ox has played just 33 minutes in the Europa League. That came during the apparently impressive second half away to Benfica.
The lack of playing time for a highly experienced player in a clearly problem position is clearly a mystery.
The former England midfielder wasn’t away during the international break. In the five fixtures since then there was the Benfica appearance and 30 minutes against Hearts. Nothing in the two matches since then.
Some fans have linked the lack of playing time to the surprise of Oxlade-Chamberlain carrying a three match UEFA suspension.
The suspension didn’t come out of fresh air. It was in the paperwork, it was on the players record, not a UEFA secret.
CLICK HERE for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s playing time in season 26/27.
Knowing our useless fuckwit CEO and CFO he has probably been signed on a pay as you play contract, hence the threadbare appearances.
Not sure there can be many more reasons lurking in the small print that’s keeping him from adding to his playing time.
We really are something to behold, it’s a wonder ANYONE of any ability comes to us.
However we have no problem giving out 5 year contracts to the dross of planet football !
The players O’Neil is playing in his sted aren’t fit to lick his boots. Just another one of our baffling selection mysteries, bordering on the criminal.
Martin appears to not know very much about who he’s picking, otherwise how do you explain this?, not to mention Sorensen, Tounetki etc. Sad though it is to sayMcGregor could also be doing with some time on the bench, but unlikely given our bizarre team selections and inexplicable substitutions.