Martin O’Neill’s decision to exclude Tomas Cvancara from the Scottish Cup semi-final clash between Celtic and St Mirren is a clear indicator about his future.
There was no place for Cvancara on the bench, with Martin O’Neill telling BBC Sport Scotland that the Czechia international is ‘not injured’.
Fellow struggler Junior Adamu is on the bench; however, this is a clear sign that Cvancara’s dream of joining Celtic permanently is fading away.
- READ MORE: Gordon Duncan calls out Hugh Keevins for ‘unreasonable’ Celtic claims on Cvancara and Iheanacho
No Tomas Cvancara in the squad 👀
Thoughts on the team?
Martin O’Neill has already shown he no longer trusts Cvancara
This is not an isolated moment, it follows on from earlier concerns about his contribution. O’Neill has already addressed Cvancara’s struggles after Dundee, which makes this omission more obvious.
When a manager publicly questions output and then removes a player from the squad despite full fitness, the pattern is clear. Cvancara is not being eased out, he is being moved aside.
The key point is consistency. A player fighting for a future place needs to be visible in squads and minutes, not absent when available.
Celtic need a reliable 30-goal striker, not a project
Celtic’s attacking decisions reflect immediate needs rather than long-term development. The fact that other attacking options were selected ahead of Cvancara reinforces that.
A club operating at the top end of Scottish football requires certainty in its central striker role. Goals, availability, and trust are non-negotiable.
Signing a proven goalscorer is a necessity and someone who can hit close to 30 goals.
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