O'Neill 'not sure what to make of' Celtic, so what are issues?

What the report says

Martin O'Neill was left with mixed impressions after Celtic’s 1-0 Scottish Premiership win away to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. BBC Sport Scotland reported that the manager made five changes to his starting side, giving a debut to goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, a first start to midfielder Oliver Sorensen and a rare appearance for defender Dane Murray, while also resting several key players ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.

The narrow victory came through Mika Baur’s first goal for Celtic, but O’Neill said the performance left him unsure what to make of the team. He also suggested the squad was still not at the level he wanted, with Celtic about to face Ferencvaros in the Europa League before a Premier Sports Cup and league double-header against Rangers. The article noted that the choices he made raised questions about squad balance and depth at a busy point in the season.

A major talking point was the decision to leave in-form forward Camilo Duran on the bench until late on. O’Neill said the Colombian had been “class” and hinted Celtic may struggle without his work rate and attacking threat. There were also concerns over the supply to striker Kasper Hogh and the quieter-than-usual display from winger Sebastian Tounekti, while James Forrest’s lively cameo prompted discussion about whether he should start against Rangers.

More broadly, the report suggested Celtic have enough options on paper, but that some players still need time to settle and click. For O’Neill, the result kept Celtic perfect in the league, but the match also exposed issues he will want addressed before a crucial week.