Celtic-linked winger Elijah Just was on the pitch for 65 minutes as New Zealand suffered a bruising 4-0 defeat to Haiti on Tuesday night, and while one difficult night is unlikely to change Celtic’s thinking, it offered a timely reminder of the scrutiny awaiting any player who makes the jump to Parkhead.
Just started the World Cup warm-up fixture in Florida before being withdrawn midway through the second half as Haiti ran riot against Darren Bazeley’s side.
The result was New Zealand’s heaviest defeat in nine years and comes as the All Whites continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
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Celtic will look beyond Elijah Just’s difficult New Zealand night
If Celtic are genuinely considering a move for Just, this result is unlikely to alter their thinking dramatically.
Recruitment decisions are made over months, not 90 minutes, and the 25-year-old has already shown he can handle the demands of Scottish football during his time at Motherwell.
Just remains a trusted figure for New Zealand and the fact he started such an important fixture underlines his standing within the national setup.
Still, matches like this become part of the wider assessment when a player is being linked with a club of Celtic’s stature.
Celtic would expose Elijah Just to a different level of pressure
The more interesting point is not the scoreline itself but how Just responds to it.
At Motherwell, a heavy defeat quickly becomes yesterday’s news. At Celtic, every performance is dissected and every setback becomes a talking point.
That pressure is part of the package when challenging for titles, competing in Europe and playing in front of a support that expects success every week.
New Zealand’s collapse against Haiti should not be viewed as a red flag for Celtic. Instead, it serves as a useful reminder that resilience is every bit as important as talent.
If a move ever materialises, Just would need to show he can respond quickly to setbacks. Celtic are unlikely to judge Just on one result. They will, however, pay close attention to what comes next.
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