Celtic injury update emerges after new fitness blow at Aberdeen as winter signing wins acclaim in key win
The Celtic boss has reacted after another win in the Premiership brought a new injury concern.
Martin O’Neill has hailed his new defensive star after Celtic defeated Aberdeen 2-1 in the Premiership - as he provided an injury update on another Hoops ace.
This was the Parkhead side’s game in hand and they deployed it to great effect, with Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren goals enough to clinch three points, after Kevin Nisbet’s penalty levelled things up at Pittodrie. It moves them into second and above Rangers, five points off leaders Hearts, ahead of their latest Old Firm derby at Ibrox this Sunday on Scottish Cup quarter-final business.
O’Neill had no complaints over the penalty awarded against Liam Scales for a foul on Toyosi Olusanya and also felt Aberdeen defender Jack Milne got away with a handball inside the Dons box. In the end, all that mattered was three Celtic points.
Martin O’Neill on Aberdeen 1-2 Celtic
Speaking on Sportsound, O’Neill said: “It was a tough evening, which I expected anyway, and we certainly got that. it was nice to come through and win the game. You know, we scored early on in proceedings. I felt as if we should have just asserted a bit more superiority. Allowed Aberdeen into the game, they get a penalty. Then you're forced in the second half to try and conjure something, which we did.
“We eventually scored the goal to win 2-1. We could have scored a couple towards the end as well, too. It would have been nice if that was the case. It wasn't to be but we showed the old resilience to fight it out right to the end. I think just after we've scored, that was the time then to really, really put a lot of pressure on.
“I felt as if we almost relaxed in that aspect. Then we allowed the penalty. I thought that we should have had a penalty. It looked as if it was a relatively clear handball. We've won the game in the end. It was a tough, tough evening for us, and we saw it through. We just stay in the hunt for another week.
What is the Celtic injury latest?
“It's another big game for us (vs Rangers). This was our third game in six days. This time last week I was actually doing interviews at Stuttgart the day before we played the game (in the Europa League) So they're coming thick and fast. This will be our fourth away trip as well too. A big, big clash against Rangers, it always is.”
Benjamin Arthur came in for his starting debut at centre-back after joining on loan from Brentford during the final day of the winter transfer window. His inclusion in the starting XI came after Dane Murray pulled up in the warm-up, with Celtic already juggling injuries for Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Arne Engels, Jota and more.
O’Neill said on Murray’s injury and Arthur’s performance: “Big Ben came in, just when Dane had to pull out with a thigh strain, I thought he did fine as well too. Just trying to get used to it. No matter what you say, these games here, they're tough games. They're tough and if you think you're going to come and have an easy time, then you certainly have a second, or you would have second thoughts about that. It was a terrific goal to win the match.”
The boss added on Sky: “It’s a shame for big Dane who was doing well in the last couple of games. We will see where we are, if the next question was the state of the injuries, I don’t know yet.”