Celtic boss Martin O’Neill will have a number of selection issues to sort out ahead of the club’s Scottish Premiership clash with Falkirk at Parkhead on Saturday.
The Northern Irish boss watched his side beat St Mirren 6-2 in the SFA Cup semi-final last weekend, but the Hoops needed extra time to win the game by four goals.
Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to score twice in extra time for the Scottish giants, making it three goals in his last three games in all competitions.
O’Neill could drop Daizen Maeda from left-back and leave Sebastian Tounekti out of the squad to release the Nigerian full-back as a starting striker against Falkirk.
Tounekti isn’t the only Hoops star who could find himself on the bench after debuting against St Mirren, however, as Arne Engels could drop to the bench.
Why Celtic would drop Arne Engels against Falkirk
The Belgian made his first start since February 11, when he picked up a thigh injury against Livingston, when he was selected to start against St Mirren at Hampden Park.
Engels looked like a player who hadn’t started a competitive game in over two months as he struggled in the middle of the park, allowing Jacob Devaney and Killian Phillips to win most of the midfield battles.
The Belgian star may need to be carefully monitored from now until the end of the season to ensure he doesn’t re-injury his hamstring after a long spell out with a thigh injury.
|
25/26 Premiership |
Arne Engels |
|---|---|
|
Appearance |
25 |
|
Goals |
4 |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
5 |
|
It helps |
2 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
33% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
50% |
Engels has also struggled in the Premiership this season, losing 67% of his games down the stretch, so putting him on the bench for this match against Falkirk may not greatly affect O’Neill’s side’s chances of winning this game.
Celtic, of course, need a starting XI after the £11m signing from Augsburg braved the bench, and they have just the man for the job waiting to step in.
Celtic star could replace Arne Engels against Falkirk
Alongside Kelechi Iheanacho, O’Neill could let go of another star who arrived at the club as a free agent with plenty of experience in the Premier League.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signed for the club in February, just as Iheanacho joined on a free transfer in September, and could replace Engels against Falkirk.
In the last game of the Premiership against St Mirren 1-0, the former England player caught the eye when he scored the winning goal, finishing coolly in the corner with his weak left foot.
As well as scoring the game-winner, the former Arsenal and Liverpool star also conceded five times in 73 minutes, completing 94% of his attempted passes.
|
Vs St Mirren |
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
73 |
|
The goal |
1 |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Pass accuracy |
94% |
|
The property is lost |
5x |
|
Duels won |
2/3 |
|
He passed |
0x |
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been reliable on and off the ball in the center of the park for the Scottish giants, and the same could not be said for Engels in the league this season, having only won 33% of his ground games.
The 32-year-old midfielder has scored two goals in five starts for the Hoops since his move from Parkhead, the most goals from open play as Engels has managed 25.
Oxlade-Chamberlain appears to be the better option for Celtic ahead of this game with Falkirk, due to his play off and inside the ball, which is why he should return to the side.
However, it is also a matter of protecting Engels from any further injuries, especially before the World Cup, to ensure that he does not miss any more games with muscle problems.
Celtic hit the jackpot when they snapped up Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer because he is still a key member of the squad, just like Iheanacho did with his recent goals after his free transfer last year.
Both of these players are proof that there is talk to be had in the free agent pool and it’s a market the board could look to use again in next summer’s transfer window, as players start to run out of contracts.
Celtic are eyeing a summer move for the Motherwell player who won the league’s best title
He was selected as the best player in the Premiership.
