Celtic goalkeeper Ross Doohan was to return from County regardless of Dubai fallout

By David Walton

January 12, 2021

Celtic goalkeeper Ross Doohan was always going to return from Ross County regardless of the Covid situation at Parkhead.

The Hoops faced Hibernian yesterday at Parkhead yesterday and there were a host of youngsters involved in the matchday squad. Doohan was one of them after spending time on loan at Ross County this term.

It hasn’t been a fruitful period for him either. He’s only managed five of a possible 24 outings for the Staggies (Transfermarkt). He’s also had to go through a managerial change too with John Hughes coming in to take over from former boss Stuart Kettlewell.

And it appears that was the moment Doohan’s time in Dingwall was up. Hughes has been touching on the Scotland under-21 starlet’s departure today, and he said he was set to head back regardless.

As quoted by BT Sport, Hughes said: “Ross was always going to back. It was on the cards before the Covid thing kicked in.

“We asked him to sit on the bench against Livingston just to give us cover and he was always going back. We are now pursuing another goalkeeper.”

Celtic looked like they’d played a blinder in sending Ross Doohan to Dingwall; hasn’t worked out

There was an argument at the start of the season to say Doohan had bagged the best loan of anyone at Lennoxtown. A move to a fine Premiership club with the chance to play the same opposition as Celtic on a weekly basis? What better way to stand out than that?

In truth, it’s been a total waste of five months. Doohan’s five games are hardly enough to justify his move. Not when the likes of Jonathan Afolabi, Kerr McInroy, and Lee O’Connor are playing on a weekly-basis for their clubs.

It’s even more frustrating given County’s situation. Ross Laidlaw, their current number one, has hardly shone. He’s only kept four clean sheets all season and County have spent most of the season in the bottom two. Not that Laidlaw has been majorly bad, but you wonder where the opportunities were for Ross.

Celtic goalkeeper Ross Doohan started for Scotland under-21s today (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

In any case, it’s not something we can blame Dubai for. His time in Dingwall should’ve come to an end a fair while ago when it was clear the opportunities weren’t there.

It would hardly be surprising now if Celtic found an alternative move for him. We seem to have three goalkeepers that Neil Lennon favours for the season ahead. No need to add a fourth when he could be out getting senior experience.

The same could be said for a host of the youngsters involved with the Celtic first-team over the next week. When this crisis finally ends, some loan departures look like the way forward for some.

In other news, Conor Hazard must focus on the positives after a generally good performance last night.