Nine Celtic transfer priorities assessed live at Scottish Cup win as Martin O'Neill scouting mission holds January key
How a Celtic fringe team performed in their 2-0 Scottish Cup win over sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park
Celtic limped into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a late Sebastian Tounekti strike earning a far from convincing 2-0 victory over sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park.
Martin O’Neill side made hard work of avoiding a historic cup upset in Ayrshire, taking 34 minutes to break the deadlock through Johnny Kenny and passing up countless opportunities against the West of Scotland Premier Division outfit, who were happy to sit in and soak up pressure.
On another day, the Hoops could easily have scored a few more goals, but such is there struggles in front of goal this season they were unable to do so until the 87th minute when Tunisian winger Tounekti curled home an unstoppable effort from the corner of the box to extinguish any hopes of an equaliser for Tommy Sloan’s disciplined part-time side.
O’Neill made TEN changes to his starting line-up from the midweek win at Falkirk, fielding very much a second-string team with only skipper Callum McGregor retaining his place in the middle of the park.
It was still a strong enough team on paper to get the job done with relative ease, but this was far from the performance that the 73-year-old Irishman will have wanted from his players.
Kenny squandered a good chance after just a couple of minutes before Michel-Ange Balikwisha - playing in the No.10 position for the first time - blazed over from close range.
Kenny hit the crossbar with a header from Luke McCowan’s free-kick early in the second half, while Talbot's best chance came when back-up Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo failed at an attempted a punch, which almost dropped to Connor Boyd.
Kenny then had the ball in the back of the net for a second time just after the hour mark with a clever chip over Wullie Muir, but the linesman’s flag was quickly raised for offside.
While progression to the fifth round was the main objective for last year's runners-up, the 7,000 frustrated Celtic fans in attendance would have been eager to witness a more convincing score line.
Celtic January transfer priorities rated after Auchinleck Talbot cup win
GOALKEEPER - 5/10
Viljami Sinisalo was given another opportunity to impress against Talbot and the Finnish international will hope he has done enough to merit taking over the gloves from Danish veteran shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel, who has been prone to far too many mistakes this season. Perhaps not a priority position at the moment, but it’s an area that Celtic will need to address in the summer, with Sinisalo’s poor distribution against Talbot leaving more questions than answers.
RIGHT-BACK - 4/10
Much will depend on whether Celtic decide to loan out youngster Colby Donovan, who has drawn plenty of admirers from other Scottish clubs. With Alistair Johnston not expected to return until February, Anthony Ralston has been filling the void but he has looked devoid of confidence. A useful back-up player in recent years, Ralston is far too ropey defensively and simply isn’t good enough to be a starting games regularly.
CENTRE-BACK - 8/10
A position that certainly needs strengthening in this window. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Hayato Inamura have left the club, leading O’Neill to recall Stephen Welsh from his impressive loan spell at Motherwell. Welsh was given a rare run-out at Rugby Park alongside Dane Murray but were rarely test, and Celtic need a better calibre of player. Auston Trusty has looked unconvincing at times and with Carter-Vickers unlikely to play again this term, Celtic should be dipping into the market for a new addition.
LEFT-BACK - 3/10
One area that looks pretty settled for the time being. Kieran Tierney has looked more astute both in and out of possession of late and has improved his fitness levels to such an extent that he is coming back to his best. Boca Juniors loanee Marcello Saracchi has looked a more than component understudy.
CENTRAL DEFENSIVE MID - 6/10
Celtic still rely too heavily on their skipper and some of the burden must be removed from McGregor’s shoulders, whether that be this month or at the end of the season. To date, only Luke McCowan has slotted into McGregor’s role during a spell out injured, but he failed to convince that he could be a possible long-term solution. McGregor will be extremely hard to replace, but he’s entering the latter stage of his career.
CENTRE-MID - 5/10
An area the champions are well stocked in at present. It’s unlikely that Celtic will lose either Reo Hatate or Arne Engels in this transfer window, but there could be interest in the pair come the summer. Paulo Bernardo has been a fringe man so far this season and he could potential seek a move elsewhere in search of regular game time. Luke McCowan can also be deployed in a deeper role, but appears to have more of an impact from off the bench.
CENTRE ATTACKING MID - 5/10
O’Neill opted to experiment by playing Balikwisha in the No.10 role for the first time, having failed to impress out wide. The summer signing, who cost £5 million, has flattered to deceive thus far but could be an option in a more central role on this evidence. Top goal scorer Benjamin Nygren is most effective in behind the lead striker. The Swedish international lacks the necessary pace required to play as a winger.
RIGHT WING - 8/10
Celtic haven’t looked comfortable at all down their right-hand side this season. Under previous head coach Wilfried Nancy, Yang Hyun-jun was the man tasked with starting most games on the right flank, but the South Korean is too inconsistent to be a regular in the XI. James Forrest is no spring-chicken and simply can’t be relied on in big games from next season onwards.
LEFT WING - 2/10
Not as problematic as the opposite flank. Sebastian Tounekti had one of his best games in a Celtic jersey against Dundee United earlier this month and will hope to kick on during the second half of the campaign after a stop-start first six months. His end product needs improving, though. With Daizen Maeda expected to move on in the summer, it’s an area that might be looked at then, but Jota and Tounekti will likely battle for a starting berth next term.
STRIKER - 9/10
A priority without question. Despite his goal against Auchinleck Talbot, Johnny Kenny isn’t the long-term solution to Celtic’s strike woes and neither is injury-plagued Kelechi Iheanacho. As for summer recruit Shin Yamada, he hasn’t had much of an opportunity but when he has taken to the pitch, the Japanese frontman has offered next to nothing. Callum Osmand has undergone successful hamstring surgery and could return before the end of the season, but he’s regarded as more of a long-term project signing. Celtic need a ready-made No.9 who possess quality and a goal scoring prowess that is currently lacking.
Looking closer to home, could Motherwell’s Tawanda Maswanhise be the answer? The Zimbabwe international has been on fire for the Steelmen this season with 15 goals to his name and having found the net in each of his last three games since returning from AFCON. O’Neill and Mark Fotheringham attended Well’ 1-0 win over Ross County yesterday to take a closer look at Maswanhise in action and the pair will have been impressed by what they witnessed.