Three Celtic players who can’t grant Martin O’Neill’s wish and enhance the style of play

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Martin O’Neill has some big plans to take Celtic forward ahead of the new season.

Unlike the previous campaign, when O’Neill had two unexpected but successful spells in the Celtic Park dugout, he now has a pre-season, his own signings and a full campaign to take the club forward.

It was a huge relief that Celtic won the domestic double last term, but that merely papered over the cracks, and one of the glaring issues was the style of play.

O’Neill has stated that he wants to complement his old-school style, along with a modern-day approach next season, as 67 Hail Hail listed three players who won’t be able to improve Celtic’s style of play.

• READ MORE: Celtic’s new set-piece coach Ross Grant explains what the players have been working on in pre-season

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Reo Hatate

As of this moment, Reo Hatate is still training with Celtic and has begun pre-season, despite suggestions he could leave this summer.

Usually, a player of Hatate’s calibre would never make such a list, but he has provided very little under O’Neill.

Hatate couldn’t even make the matchday squad towards the back end of last season, so relying on him to enhance and change the style of play going forward simply isn’t going to happen.

Benjamin Nygren

Celtic’s top scorer from last season.

Benjamin Nygren scored 21 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign, but there were continual questions around what he provides outside of the penalty box.

Yes, the Swedish international might improve that side of the game, but not to the point where he will bring back that free-flowing football fans want to see at Celtic again.

That isn’t Nygren’s game. He isn’t going to run a game like Callum McGregor in his prime or carry the ball across the pitch like Matt O’Riley, so it’s a case of bringing those qualities around him rather than expecting it from the player himself.

Anthony Ralston

There is talk that Anthony Ralston will sign a new contract. You have to question whether this is the right call, given Colby Donovan’s recent breakthrough campaign and the fact that Alistair Johnston is number one.

Ralston always gives his all, but he isn’t a player who will enhance the team’s style of play.

Yes, O’Neill wants to bring that old-school approach, but with Shaun Maloney leading his backroom staff, he wants to play out from the back, in tight areas and pick out clever passes under pressure. That simply isn’t Ralston’s game.