Andy Halliday says it’s ‘genuinely mental’ Celtic haven’t signed SPFL star with ‘power’ and ‘drive’

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It’s the halfway stage of the January transfer window, and Celtic only have one new face in the building.

Martin O’Neill has one arm tied behind his back as he aims to sort out Celtic’s mess, which stems from the summer, as several individuals have already paid the price for those failings.

Thankfully, Paul Tisdale is out of the door, and Peter Lawwell has also gone, as Andy Halliday discussed Celtic’s failings in the summer.

One man thriving at Hibernian now, Josh Mulligan, is being linked with Celtic, and Halliday is surprised that he isn’t playing for the champions of Scotland.

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Andy Halliday shocked Celtic haven’t signed Josh Mulligan from Hibernian

Mulligan’s contract at Dundee expired in the summer, and he secured a move to Hibernian.

Celtic have been here before when they signed Luke McCowan for nothing, so they are used to picking up domestic players in such a fashion.

But given the ‘power’ and ‘drive’ in Mulligan’s game, Halliday told Open Goal it’s ‘genuinely mental’ that the Hoops haven’t secured his signature.

Si Ferry: “Do you think it will be more Scottish-based players? Martin O’Neill did that quite a bit the first time, didn’t he? Buy players from Scotland.

“Mulligan. Would you take Mulligan in January? Is that a position they need to strengthen, though? Quite strong in the middle of the pitch. They thought Engels was going to be that type of player.”

Halliday: “Aye, in terms of that power and drive. Engels isn’t like that compared to Mulligan. I wouldn’t say so. He is more of a kind a ball player.

“Mulligan is brilliant. Again, you can talk about the summer more so. It’s genuinely mental that Rangers and Celtic haven’t signed him.”

Would Mulligan start for Celtic?

Celtic’s midfield has been a major issue this season, and you just wonder, looking forward to the summer, how much it will be changed.

There are probably several in the building, such as Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo, who will be moved on, and then you have Callum McGregor, who can’t keep taking all the responsibility in the middle of the park.

Right now, you could argue Mulligan gets ahead of Arne Engels, Hatate and Bernardo. Although the latter doesn’t really play that much.