The 2026 World Cup is taking centre stage right now, but Celtic will be back in pre-season action on Tuesday.
Martin O’Neill’s side will start preparations in Ireland against Shelbourne, as fans are hoping for huge changes, given the issues of last season despite the domestic double success.
67 Hail Hail have listed five Celtic players, including returning loanee Maik Nawrocki, who desperately need a strong pre-season if they are to enhance their chances of staying in Glasgow.
Name the Celtic players who you think need a BIG pre-season? 🍀🤔
Share your thoughts, Celtic fans…👇🍀
Paulo Bernardo
The forgotten Celtic midfielder. Paulo Bernardo hardly featured last season, including not being selected by O’Neill in the matchday squad on several occasions.
But Bernardo is back in pre-season, and despite Celtic’s troubles in the middle of the park, he has serious competition around him, including the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
However, with Reo Hatate wanting out and Benjamin Nygren resting after World Cup duty with Sweden, this is Bernardo’s chance to send one final reminder about what he is all about.
| Games in 2025/26 | Starts | Total minutes |
| 20 | 7 | 635 |
Johnny Kenny
Johnny Kenny was on-loan at Bolton during the second half of the season, but those new faces who replaced him in the winter couldn’t better what he produced.
Yes, there is talk of Celtic signing Camilo Duran, but he isn’t here yet, and Daizen Maeda, another player resting after World Cup duty, wants to leave.
All in all, it provides Kenny with a chance to net some goals in pre-season and get himself back onside with the supporters and the manager.
Does Johnny Kenny have a long-term future at Celtic?
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
It was a torrid debut season from Michel-Ange Balikwisha. So much so that he was hardly seen during the second half of the last campaign.
But pretty early into this summer, Balikwisha was posting on social media about returning to Celtic, so does he have the bit between his teeth?
Yes, if Celtic fans had a choice, they would sell Balikwisha tomorrow, but if he has a positive pre-season, then it will be interesting to see how the likes of the fans and O’Neill react to it all.
Viljami Sinisalo
Kasper Schmeichel’s brutal career-ending injury last season opened the door for Viljami Sinisalo to become the club’s number one.
Sinisalo did his job between the sticks, including helping the Hoops to a domestic double.
But there is talk around Celtic bringing in a new keeper.
Given that the club take an age to make signings anyway, if Sinisalo can look solid in pre-season, then by the time the powers that be get anywhere near bringing in a new keeper, it should push the talk towards how the Finland international should remain as the number one.
Maik Nawrocki
This is an interesting one. Even though Hannover 96 missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga last season, Nawrocki impressed during his loan spell in Germany’s second tier.
After signing for Celtic in 2023, many have felt that the Polish star has never been given a proper chance in Glasgow.
Frank McAvennie has already called for Nawrocki to be given a chance next season.
As Auston Trusty remains on World Cup duty and Cameron Carter-Vickers cautiously returns from a long-term injury, Nawrocki could earn significantly more minutes this pre-season.
It is a situation that will undoubtedly leave fans asking the same familiar question every time he takes to the pitch: why isn’t he used more often?
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