Celtic endured a pretty tough evening in the Europa League on Thursday night, as more problems reared their ugly heads for Martin O’Neill.
Kasper Schmeichel was the main talking point from Celtic’s first-leg playoff defeat to VfB Stuttgart, and there are questions over whether he should keep his place in the XI.
Whilst many call for Viljami Sinisalo to start for Celtic, Hugh Keevins has gone down another road, suggesting that Ross Doohan should be given the gloves because he ‘hasn’t had a chance’ since re-joining in the summer.
Celtic signed Doohan as a third-choice keeper following Scott Bain’s exit, and he has been in and out of matchday squads all season long without getting on the pitch.
Callum has named his team to face Hibs
What does your starting XI look like? 🤷♂️
Ross Doohan backed to start for Celtic against Hibernian
The last time Doohan played a competitive club match was ten months ago for Aberdeen against Rangers in a Premiership match – that was in April.
His last game, full stop, was Doohan’s Scotland debut in June, when he featured in an international friendly against Liechtenstein.
But despite not seeing much action, and every Celtic game being so important from now until the end of the season, Keevins suggested that Doohan is the answer to the goalkeeping problems, and not Sinisalo, as he told Clyde 1.
“I would try Viljami Sinisalo,” said Keevins. “My concern would be, in fact, I wouldn’t try Sinisalo. I would go for Ross Doohan. I think he’s a good goalkeeper and hasn’t had a chance since he re-joined the club.
“But the problems run deeper than the goalkeeping position, and I know that is a vital position.”
Kasper Schmeichel is a ‘big figure’ in the Celtic dressing room
Celtic take on Hibernian in the Premiership on Sunday, and all eyes will be on whether Schmeichel starts.
Whatever O’Neill decides, it will prove to be a huge talking point, as Keevins shared that Celtic’s number one is a ‘big figure’ inside the dressing room.
Keevins doesn’t think the Denmark international’s confidence is going to be ‘shot to pieces’, but more of an ‘angry man’ behind the scenes.
“Everyone tells me he is a big figure inside the dressing room (Kasper Schmeichel),” added Keevins. “I am not sure his confidence is shot to pieces. I am sure he is an angry man right now.
“He wouldn’t have liked the Celtic fans turning on him against Stuttgart. It’s a very uncharacteristic thing to do from the Celtic support to turn on one of their own players, but they have done.
“It adds to this feeling that there is no unity at Celtic, only mutiny. The demonstration in the first minute of the match has angered the club. The stadium was virtually empty by the time the final whistle blew.
“They are, at the moment, a very unhappy club.”
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