The midfield battle will be key in playoff Champions League clash against LASK. Could Martin O’Neill add to the squad or perhaps throw a tactical curveball?
Martin O’Neill arrives at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic, Premier Sports Cup, Saturday 15 August. Tannadice. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou
In a little over 48 hours, Celtic will play their most important game to date this campaign when they take on Austrian Champions LASK with a place in the Champions League up for grabs.
It’s vital that Celtic take a positive result over to Linz the following Tuesday, with positive for being a win of any sort.
Haissem Hassan, Mika Baur & Camilo Duran of Celtic. Celtic Training and press conference, photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/ Shutterstock
Celtic is absolutely flying at the moment, and that’s all down to our attacking prowess, which has been greatly strengthened due to the signings of Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran with Haissem Hassan also been added to that list after signing from Real Oviedo last week.
Our defence is also starting to look more solid and secure than it was last year, which is in a massive way down to the return of the highly influential Cameron Carter-Vickers. Kieran Tierney was rested at Tannadice with this game in mind and at right-back Anthony Ralston could come in to replace the less experienced Colby Donovan.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill watches on. Celtic Training and press conference, photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/ Shutterstock
Martin O’Neill may be considering a curve-ball of playing with a back three with Liam Scales joining CCV and Auston Trusty.
That would push the two full-backs further up the field and help Celtic negotiate a potential problem area for this tie. Celtic’s midfield is an area that could be something of a concern heading into both play off clashes.
Paulo Bernardo was allowed to depart on loan, whilst Arne Engels has just signed for West Ham, and let’s not forget that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is suspended, meaning we are heading into the tie very light in the midfield department.
Celtic’s new signing Mika Baur poses in full Celtic home kit. Celtic Training and press conference, photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/ Shutterstock
That leaves us with just Callum McGregor, Mika Baur, Reo Hatate, Luke McCowan, and Benjamin Nygren to take on the Austrians.
Each of the aforementioned names have their own abilities, and are terrific footballers, but none of them are what you would call an all round energetic midfielder, someone with a bit of dig as well as pace.
Arne Engels gave us that trait, even if it was often overlooked, but now he’s gone we don’t possess that quality. That’s concerning when you study the LASK midfield, an area that’s arguably their greatest strength.
Soccer Austria ADMIRAL Bundesliga 20262027, Matchday 3, August 14, 2026: Linzer ASK LASK vs. SV Oberbank Ried at Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, Austria. Pictured: Dietmar Kühbauer, coach of LASK, Dietmar Didi Kühbauer, before the match against SV Ried, photo credit IMAGO
LASK’s midfield trio of Robert Ljubicic, Sasha Horvath, and Melyro Bogarde are the main cog in Dietmar Kuhbauer’s side, with all three renowned for their pressing ability, as well as possessing great creativity, and they work well together to keep the opposition quiet whilst at the same time creating opportunities for their strikers.
We’ve seen on many occasions, especially in European football, how much our midfield has been exposed and overrun by better quality players.
Soccer Austria ADMIRAL Bundesliga 20262027, Matchday 3, August 14, 2026: Linzer ASK LASK vs. SV Oberbank Ried at Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria. Pictured: Xavier Tshimanga Mbuyamba, LASK, Evan Eghosa Aisowieren, SV Ried, EVAN Eghosa Aisowieren, Ried, Photo credit IMAGO
LASK will in have doubt targeted that area, which is all that weaker now that Arne Engels has left, and our midfielders will have to make sure they are one hundred percent focused, as it could be the key to winning the tie.
Of course Martin O’Neill has until 11pm tomorrow evening to bring in one or two new signings but it would be asking a great deal to throw them in at the deep end without knowing their teammates.
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