Martin O’Neill has commented on his calls on Kelechi Iheanacho and Arne Engels for Celtic’s clash with St Mirren.
Both players are on the bench for the game, despite the former scoring the winner in last weekend’s win over Dundee.
Engels is making his return from injury, having not featured since a 2-1 win over Livingston exactly two months ago.
O’Neill was asked about both before the game.
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Martin O’Neill says Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic call down to ‘fitness’
Speaking to BBC Sportsound before the game, O’Neill said: “It really is as much to do with fitness as anything else.
“[Kelechi] came on, made a big, big difference to us, and it was a case of maybe starting him and [him] not lasting the game.
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“So Tomas stays at centre-forward for us. At least we know, in terms of the substitutes that we have, that they can actually make an impact in the game.
“[The bench] will have to [make an impact going forward], really. There’s no doubt at all about that. And that’s good, really, as much as anything else…
“That they have been able to play a part. Because if you think that you should be in the starting line-up, there’s nothing more disappointing [than] to hear the team news.
“But if you think ‘Listen, I can come on and I can do something for the football club’, that’s good news for them.”
It’s been a season of injuries for Celtic, with Jota unseen since May last year and Alistair Johnston also waiting to return.
Cameron Carter-Vickers also had his season ended abruptly in the same game as Johnston, and Julian Araujo’s season is also over.
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