Martin O’Neill believes he now can’t dwell with out Camilo Duran after watching Celtic battle to recover from the road towards St Johnstone.
The champions chalked up their sixth straight league win this season courtesy of Mika Baur’s first objective for the membership.
The Celtic supervisor left six-goal Duran on the bench for 73 minutes and was dismayed that the aspect he began with didn’t convert a string of half probabilities.
And with Kasper Hogh’s objectives drying up after a fast begin to life in Glasgow, O’Neill now believes that the Colombian is irreplaceable.
‘Duran has simply been class,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘He appeared drained within the sport towards St Mirren. However I’m not shocked with the quantity of issues that he does for us, each with the ball, which is terrific, and likewise the work that he does off it.
‘He’s second solely to Daizen Maeda when it comes to closing gamers down. So, I needed to try to see if we might do with out him, and the reply might be not!’
Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill was annoyed to see his much-changed aspect battle in Perth
Regardless of the welcome victory, O’Neill was clearly underwhelmed together with his aspect’s poor conversion charge in entrance of objective.
‘I assumed we began off with quite a lot of possession,’ he added. ‘I assumed we began to create a couple of issues. Once we have been doing that, it appeared as if there was no person within the penalty field for us.
‘We obtained a bit extra tempo into the sport within the second half, obtained the objective and noticed it by.
‘We might have scored quite a few objectives, however we made that look very, very troublesome certainly.’
O’Neill made 5 adjustments to the aspect, with Sam Johnstone chosen forward of Viljami Sinisalo in objective. The Englishman made a wonderful save to disclaim Joel Cotterill with the sport nonetheless stage.
‘He makes a terrific save, which is an enormous, large second within the sport for us. As a result of it might have been Saturday night time another time.
‘The save was unbelievable — a extremely, actually sensible response save. He’s been a tremendous goalkeeper. It’s only a matter of getting up to the mark with issues.
Mika Baur was the Celtic hero after claiming his first objective since his summer time switch
‘I feel he took a little bit of cramp then. A goalkeeper taking cramp, no matter subsequent…’
Requested if he’d spoken to Viljami Sinisalo about leaving him out, O’Neill mentioned: ‘Sure, he’s finished very, very properly certainly. However it’s worthwhile to discover out. Whereas I don’t wish to use video games like this, I’ve to search out out about quite a few gamers.
‘For example, Oliver Sorensen began the sport tonight. Our essential man (Duran) solely got here on within the final 10 or quarter-hour. So, it does, it provides you meals for thought.’
Cameron Carter-Vickers wasn’t within the match day squad, however O’Neill is optimistic that he’ll be obtainable to face Rangers within the Premier Sports activities Cup at Ibrox on Sunday.
‘I’m hoping that he can be obtainable, sure,’ he defined. ‘He’s hardly missed a minute of pre-season and likewise the video games. He’s been out for a 12 months and he was simply feeling actually sore on Saturday night.
‘I’ve obtained a lot time for giant Dane Murray. I’ve obtained quite a lot of time for him. I feel he’s obtained a correct profession. His accidents have curtailed him for some time, however he’s simply coming by.
Camilo Duran was restricted to the bench till being known as upon with 17 minutes to go
‘I feel he’s obtained a extremely respectable future, and issues to choose up on. However sure, when it comes to Carter-Vickers, he ought to be OK for Sunday.’
Kieran Tierney can be able to play at Ibrox having are available as a late substitute.
‘It’s good to see him,’ he added. ‘We have been attempting to get him on the sphere earlier than the top of the sport.
‘Even when he’d not obtained on, he’d have been alright for Sunday.’
