Many, many Celtic fans didn’t turn up for the pre-season friendly draw against Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon at Parkhead.
The suggestion is that it’s down to Celtic’s lack of movement in the 2026 summer transfer market, including not being able to re-sign Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi.
But one man who was signed this summer is Camilo Durán, and he has started like a house on fire with the champions of Scotland.
After Durán’s goal against Sporting in his first appearance for the club, he was on the scoresheet again, and Martin O’Neill is backing the forward from Colombia to go right to the top, as he told his post-match press conference.
Kelechi Iheanacho won’t return to Celtic. How do you feel Celtic fans? 🤔🍀
Martin O'Neill has defended the call…😬
Martin O’Neill lauds Camilo Durán after he scores for Celtic against Middlesbrough
“I think if he stays clear of serious injury, then he will be a big asset to us,” said O’Neill.
“He can hold it up. He is incredibly enthusiastic. He can close players down. But the main thing is that he wants to play, he wants to improve, and I think he will do.”
Camilo Durán is walking into Celtic’s starting XI against Dundee
Celtic’s opening Premiership game of the season is against Dundee on August 3.
Right now, Durán is walking straight into the starting XI because he is showing no signs that he needs to settle down into his new home.
Yes, the fact that the Hoops have very few forward options, as of this moment, doesn’t help matters because Johnny Kenny is injured, and Daizen Maeda is still resting after World Cup duty.
But even then, Durán is knocking on the door, showing encouraging signs, impressing the coaching staff, his teammates, and the supporters.
Celtic have got a lot of things wrong since Kyogo Furuhashi left in January 2025, but hopefully, the club have finally found the goals everyone has been craving.
What’s even more impressive about Durán, and O’Neill touched upon it, is that enthusiasm in his game, his willingness to run like Maeda.
If Durán can, somehow, replicate that over the course of the campaign, then once again, what a find and what a signing he will turn out to be!
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