Martin O'Neill, the man at the helm of Celtic, is set to tailor his tactical approach around the squad members who are delivering the strongest performances, especially as he navigates the loss of Hyun‑jun Yang and the re‑introduction of Kasper Hogh into the line‑up. During Hogh's three‑match spell on the sidelines due to a groin injury, Camilo Duran stepped into the centre‑forward role and made a significant impact. The Colombian striker found the back of the net three times and also supplied the decisive assist for Yang in Celtic's 2‑1 win over St Mirren on Saturday. In addition, Duran had a goal ruled out for an off‑side infringement, a decision that sparked some debate among fans and pundits alike.
Although Duran originally made a name for himself playing on the wing, his transfer from Qarabag to Celtic was intended for him to operate as a pure striker. His recent performances suggest that O'Neill now has a versatile attacking option who can thrive both centrally and out wide. Another forward currently on Celtic's books is Shim Mheuka, a Chelsea loanee who is only 18 years old.
Mheuka also saw a goal disallowed in the Paisley fixture and displayed a clear threat during his two appearances off the bench. His youthful energy and willingness to take on defenders have caught O'Neill’s eye, and the manager hinted that the teenager could earn a regular place if he continues to impress.
Callum Osmand, who is recuperating from an ankle problem, is expected to be back in training next month. With South Korean winger Hyun‑jun Yang missing four games while representing his country at the Asian Games, O'Neill now has the freedom to experiment with different formations. One option on the table is a return to the 3‑5‑2 system that he favoured during his first spell as Celtic manager, a setup that could accommodate both the returning Kasper Hogh and the emerging talents up front. "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," O'Neill said before Wednesday’s clash with St Johnstone, speaking on Sky Sports. "Whatever we do, when everybody is absolutely fit, then it's a matter of trying to get your best players on the field." The manager also spoke about Mheuka’s potential: "I expect decent things of Shim. I expect him to do well. He's just getting to know the players, getting to understand 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 like a player with a lot of promise. We definitely have got better options up front than we had last season." Mheuka, who has represented England at youth level, arrived in Glasgow with a clear mission: to make an impact as quickly as possible. "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." Across the league, Simo Valakari’s St Johnstone have started their Premiership campaign with two home victories, a fact that O'Neill praised. "It's nice to see really talented young managers doing well," he said. "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, O'Neill’s challenge will be to blend the experience of returning players like Hogh with the raw talent of newcomers such as Duran, Mheuka and the soon‑to‑return Osmand. By potentially reverting to a 3‑5‑2 formation, he can provide a solid defensive base while allowing two strikers to operate in tandem, giving him flexibility to rotate based on fitness and form. The manager’s willingness to adapt his tactics underscores a broader trend in modern football: the need for coaches to be fluid, to prioritize the strengths of their squad, and to give emerging players the confidence and platform to thrive. If O'Neill can successfully integrate these pieces, Celtic could see a resurgence in attacking potency, more varied goal‑scoring sources, and a renewed sense of competition for places that drives the entire team forward.
The upcoming fixtures will be a litmus test for his strategic adjustments, and supporters will be watching closely to see whether the proposed tactical reshuffle translates into results on the pitch.