Martin O'Neill, the man at the helm of Celtic, is set to tailor his tactical approach around the squad's standout performers as he navigates the loss of Hyun‑jun Yang and the reintegration of Kasper Hogh. During Hogh's three‑match spell out with a groin injury, Colombian forward Camilo Duran seized the opportunity to flourish in the central striker role. Duran not only found the back of the net three times but also supplied the decisive assist for Yang in Celtic's 2-1 triumph over St Mirren on Saturday.
A second goal he scored was controversially ruled out for off‑side, underscoring his growing influence on the pitch. Although Duran initially made his mark playing out wide, he arrived at Celtic from Qarabag as a natural centre‑forward and has now demonstrated that he can adapt to a more advanced position when the team needs him.
O'Neill also has another attacking option in the form of Chelsea loanee Shim Mheuka, an 18‑year‑old who, like Duran, suffered a disallowed goal in the Paisley encounter and has shown glimpses of threat during his two substitute appearances. Shim's youthful energy and hunger to prove himself have caught the manager's eye, and O'Neill has hinted that the teenager could earn a regular place if he continues to impress.
Adding to the forward options, Callum Osmand is expected to return from an ankle injury next month, further widening O'Neill's selection pool. With South Korean winger Hyun‑jun Yang sidelined for four games due to his commitment to the Asian Games, the Celtic boss may feel encouraged to revisit the 3‑5‑2 formation that defined his first spell in charge of the Hoops.
That system, which emphasizes a solid back three, wing‑backs who contribute both defensively and offensively, and two strikers working in tandem, could accommodate the returning Hogh while still offering space for the emerging talents of Duran and Mheuka. "We've got Kasper back the last couple of days and Kieran (Tierney) did a little bit of work with us, so we'll have a look to see how they are. We've got a couple of other fitness issues with players, but will try to go as strongly as we possibly can," the 74‑year‑old manager said ahead of Wednesday's clash at St Johnstone, speaking on Sky Sports. He added, "Whatever we do, when everybody is absolutely fit, then it's a matter of trying to get your best players on the field." Those words underline O'Neill's philosophy: quality and fitness trump rigid adherence to a single formation.
Speaking about Shim Mheuka, O'Neill expressed confidence in the teenager's potential. "I expect decent things of Shim," he said. "I expect him to do well. He's just getting to know the players.
He's getting to know what's expected of him in terms of style of play, what we do with the ball and what we do without it. It's essentially what he does with the ball that will determine not only his time here, but his future in the game, and he looks a player with a lot of promise. We definitely have got better options up front than we had last season." Mheuka, an England youth international, arrived in Glasgow with a clear mission: to make an impact. "I'm just focused on playing and training, trying to get into that team and come on and make an impact whenever I can," he explained.
"When you come on, in your mind, you want to try and take that one opportunity that might come to you. It's just about staying positive whenever you can, always believing in putting yourself in the right positions and, ultimately, I'll get chances.
You can't get anywhere without self‑belief. We're all in positions where we want to be because of how confident we are in our abilities and how much we believe in ourselves." Beyond Celtic, O'Neill also praised the progress of Simo Valakari's St Johnstone side, who have secured victories in their first two home Premiership fixtures. "It's nice to see really talented young managers doing well," O'Neill remarked. "They want to play football and they're committed.
There's a vitality about them which is very, very encouraging. Not dissimilar in many aspects to what Craig McLeish is doing at St Mirren." Looking ahead, the Celtic manager faces a delicate balancing act: integrating returning players like Hogh and Tierney, nurturing emerging talents such as Duran and Mheuka, and possibly reshaping the tactical framework to a 3‑5‑2 shape that maximises the strengths of his most effective attackers.
If O'Neill can keep his squad healthy and maintain the confidence of his younger prospects, the Hoops could enjoy a dynamic, adaptable style of play that leverages both experience and fresh energy, keeping them competitive on all domestic fronts.