Robbie Neilson has given one of the most damning indictments of Celtic’s recruitment yet.
As the Scottish Premiership run-in approaches, Hearts remain at the top of the table. Just five years ago, Neilson was managing them in the second tier.
The failures of Celtic’s recruitment this season have been well-established, but in their bruising 2-0 defeat to Dundee United last weekend, we saw how they continue to make the team suffer.
Neilson is now able to make the argument that the Tynecastle side have better attacking options than Celtic, without it sounding ridiculous.
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Celtic’s options “nowhere near” Hearts, Robbie Neilson says
Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, Neilson said: “I think it’s been spoken about, the recruitment side of things, not been good enough this season.
“Also, you’ve got Jota out injured, who over the last season is a top player. You’re missing guys like that. So I just think that the recruitment has been really poor.
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“I just think, when you look at Celtic’s bench, they don’t have those top quality players that they’ve had previously.
“I think it’s been spoken about, the recruitment side of things, not been good enough this season. Also, you’ve got Jota out injured, who over the last season is a top player. You’re missing guys like that.
“So I just think that the recruitment has been really poor. When you look at Celtic’s bench, they don’t have those top quality players.
“Daizen Maeda at times last season would maybe be coming on for the last 30 minutes, and the game is then open, and he can go and score one or two goals and take the game away. But now you’re relying on him from the start. He’s playing striker, he’s playing left. There were transfer issues in January.
“He just looks as if he wants out, and the squad at Celtic doesn’t have anywhere near the options that Hearts have.
“When you look at Hearts’ bench, when they’re making changes, they’re bringing goals on. They’ve got Lawrence Shankland coming back now.
“If Martin can get the title back to Parkhead this season, he should get a statue, because they just do not have the squad to do it.”
Neilson isn’t alone in touting Martin O’Neill for a statue if he can deliver the title – but that might not be the only thing the club give him if he secures the trophy.
Should Celtic build a statue of Martin O’Neill outside of Parkhead?
Outcasts in a bloated squad for Celtic
It looks extremely unlikely that Joel Mvuka will be at Celtic beyond this season after two disappointing appearances, and he isn’t their only recent signing who is likely to be discarded after an unimpactful spell.
Junior Adamu has also faced harsh criticism since being signed on loan in January. He hasn’t started a game since being hooked at half-time in the Hoops’ 2-2 draw at Ibrox.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha was supposed to be one of the headline signings from last summer, but he too has failed to make an impact on the wing, appearing just once in 2026.
Speaking of the summer, Hayato Inamura, Shin Yamada and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey all immediately left Celtic in January after being brought in six months earlier.
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