Celtic’s win against Sturm Graz was a major step in their Europa League campaign.
After the visitors took the lead early on to a screamer from Tomi Horvat, goals from Liam Scales and Benjamin Nygren completed a quickfire turnaround in the second half.
Despite the positive result, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alistair Johnston being withdrawn due to injury put a dampener on the evening.
Matters were made even worse by the news which broke the next day – Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss three to five months with an achilles injury.
Elsewhere in Europe, one of the Hoops’ biggest summer transfer targets was in action against Premier League opposition – and despite him going off injured, his side completed a famous upset.
Celtic summer target goes off injured in Europa League win
It’s well-documented that Celtic’s summer transfer window wasn’t popular – a wave of fan protests have dominated the seven weeks since.
Kasper Dolberg and William Boving were among the Danish players linked with a move to Glasgow.
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But it was midfielder Jakob Breum, of Go Ahead Eagles, who was in action against Aston Villa last night.
The 21-year-old Danish youth international is the Eredivisie side’s star player, and played the full 90 minutes in their surprise 2-1 win away at Panathinaikos.
But if that wasn’t impressive enough, they stunned Unai Emery’s side – for whom John McGinn appeared off the bench – after coming from a goal behind.
The Eagles’ sporting director publicly mocked Celtic’s attempts to sign him, drawing comparisons between them and Rangers’ attempts to sign Oliver Antman.
In the end, Breum stayed put at the Deventer side, despite the Hoops having multiple bids knocked back.
He went off 40 minutes into the upset, and the extent of his injury has not yet been confirmed. It remains to be seen if Celtic maintain their interest in him, like they did with Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Celtic’s summer transfer targets – where are they now?
The aforementioned Dolberg opted to join his former club Ajax on deadline day – he is yet to score a goal since his move to Amsterdam.
Fellow striker target David Strelec made the move to Middlesbrough, who are a point off the top of the Championship in England. Jamie Vardy was linked with an unlikely move to Celtic Park – he joined Cremonese.
Louis Munteanu’s asking price has been publicly reduced by his club president – he has stayed put at Cluj, whilst Datro Fofana ended up at Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey after his move to Charlton fell through.
Lennon Miller has opened his account for Udinese in the Coppa Italia, but is yet to start a match in Serie A.
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