Martin O’Neill has confirmed Celtic are actively searching for another left-back to ease the burden on Kieran Tierney, while expressing confidence that new arrivals Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh will make a major impact despite mixed first outings.
The Scottish champions opened their Premiership title defence with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Dundee on flag day, although the display fell short of their usual standards.
Tierney again impressed amid continuing speculation over interest from Spanish side Osasuna, while summer recruits Duran and Hogh were both handed starting debuts at Celtic Park.
With further additions expected before the transfer window closes, O’Neill acknowledged strengthening at left-back remains a priority as he looks to provide greater competition and cover for Tierney.
A move to bring Marcelo Saracchi back to Glasgow now appears unlikely, with the Uruguayan instead poised to continue his career in Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, O’Neill said: “Of course, and that’s something we are definitely looking at. Kieran, with the best will in the world, will not get through every single game.
“If we are going to be playing in European football one way or the other, it would be a bit like last year; he was recovering then and didn’t see some games out because he puts so much into it. That’s dead right. So we’re looking along those lines.
“We’ve got some young lads in the academy who are very fine players, but I think it’s a wee bit early for them.”
Hogh, who recently completed his £11 million switch from Bodo/Glimt, found himself in several promising positions but was unable to mark his debut with a goal, while Duran featured on the right flank as the pair made their first competitive appearances together.
Despite the missed opportunities, O’Neill insisted the Danish striker’s goals will come once he has had more time to settle into his new surroundings.
He said: “Kasper had a number of chances; he could have scored two or three goals quite easily. I think it was one of those evenings where you want to try and impress, and of course he wants to impress the home fans here.
“It’s the first time he’s played for us, he’s done some training, and he will definitely get better. There’s no question about it, and he will score goals for the football club.
“For Duran, he played a little bit out of position because we haven’t actually had time for them to play together yet. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be able to work on that in training. He can turn people as he did on the edge of the six-yard box, brilliantly really, and crosses the ball that we could have scored from. That’s his game; that’s what he can do. From the wide right-hand side, I think sometimes the game might pass him by.
“Overall, again, it’s the first time the two of them have played together. I’m not even sure that we did that many training sessions with the two of them playing together, but it’s great. Those are two really fine players and I think that they will help us.”
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1 Comment
If you had balls Martin we would have kept Sarrachi