James McFadden says Celtic player with only three starts has been a ‘smart’ signing

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There was very little for Celtic to cheer about from the weekend.

Yes, Celtic will win the Premiership title and even possibly the Treble, but Brendan Rodgers has some big calls to make in the summer.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	32	25	3	4	92	21	71	78
2	RangersRangers	32	20	5	7	66	33	33	65
3	HibernianHibernian	32	13	11	8	50	41	9	50
4	AberdeenAberdeen	32	14	7	11	43	47	-4	49

There have been some worrying performances in 2025, including Celtic’s 1-0 defeat to bottom club St Johnstone on Sunday.

Not many players can hold their heads up high because, from top to bottom, many of them find themselves in the firing line and feeling the wrath of their manager.

Let’s see what happens when the transfer window re-opens and if the Celtic manager boots them out in a ruthless manner.

But, one man who is looking the real deal is the man brought in during the previous summer and that’s, Viljami Sinisalo, following his move from Aston Villa.

• READ MORE: What Aston Villa said about Viljami Sinisalo as Celtic told they have a ‘real talent’

Viljami Sinisalo has been a ‘smart’ signing for Celtic

Amid the gloom of St Johnstone, there is a lot to like with Sinisalo, and Celtic’s back-up goalkeeper does look the part – he made his third start for the club in Perth.

With Kasper Schmeichel still injured, it’s good to see that Celtic are in good hands, both in the short and long term, and that was alluded to by James McFadden.

The former Scotland midfielder praised the powers that be at Celtic Park for how they went about replacing the retired Joe Hart during the recent summer transfer window, as he told Sky Sports.

“I think it was a smart signing,” said McFadden about Sinisalo’s summer arrival.

“Signing an experienced goalkeeper and a young goalkeeper, that’s not going to come in and get the learning from playing games, but the learning from training and how to work with a top goalkeeper, which he does with Kasper Schmeichel.

“You need to make sure you are ready for your opportunity. You can’t really prepare for it. He is an international goalkeeper, so it’s not as if it’s some young guy that’s getting thrown in and doesn’t have a lot of experience, so it’s a good opportunity for him.

“I think, as well, the goalkeeper is a strange position because, a lot of times, you have got an opportunity, maybe through poor performance or an injury that’s one or two weeks. You come in and you know you are almost keeping for that one game.

“If you make a mistake, then it plays on your mind. But he knows he has a bit of time now, to just go and focus on performing to his level.”

Sinisalo is a ‘bonus’ for Celtic

Luckily for Celtic, whilst Schmeichel is out injured, it’s not for months as months, which some feared when he was rolling around in agony for Denmark during the international break.

But, if he doesn’t return in time before the season comes to a close, then it’s Sinisalo who will, not only start the Scottish Cup semi-final, but the final itself, if Celtic can see past St Johnstone.

All of this is great for Sinisalo’s ‘development’ according to McFadden, as he pushes to become Celtic’s number one.

“It’s a great bonus for Celtic that they have a young goalkeeper that they want to make a long-term investment on, in terms of putting him into the training and getting that experience,” added McFadden.

“He is getting the experience now in games that Celtic can go and win the league. The Scottish Cup semi-final. It might be the Scottish Cup final as well. Big games that he is involved in, and it’s great for his development.”