Celtic’s 7-1 victory over Hearts has eased many questions surrounding Martin O’Neill’s side, but one major dilemma remains regarding record signing Kasper Hogh’s spot in the starting line-up. The 25-year-old Denmark forward was benched for the visit of last season’s runners-up, as a dynamic front three of Camilo Duran, Callum Osmand, and Haissem Hassan powered a dominant attacking performance.
Hogh Struggles for Form and Confidence
Having scored in just one of his 12 Celtic appearances—a hat-trick against Kilmarnock in August—O’Neill acknowledged that his £11m summer acquisition is low on confidence ahead of a Europa League match against Celta Vigo. The veteran manager stated that Hogh has lost some confidence, but insisted it will return over time and that the forward will score goals for the club during a busy schedule leading up to January.
Hogh did come off the bench against Hearts to set up Benjamin Nygren for Celtic’s seventh goal, having also assisted the Sweden midfielder a week earlier in a 2-0 win at Motherwell. However, his struggles during a 4-1 Europa League defeat in Lisbon, where he was substituted at half-time, heightened the debate about his role in the team.
Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan told BBC Sport that if he were a creative player choosing between Duran and Hogh, he would pick Duran every time because he is more alert in the penalty area and plays off the shoulder of defenders. When Hogh was removed at half-time against Benfica, Duran moved to a central attacking role alongside Hassan and Osmand, creating a much more potent frontline that O’Neill deployed from the start against Hearts.
Is Celtic’s Best Attack Without Their Record Signing?
Osmand scored a double as the champions built a 5-1 half-time lead, while Duran netted his ninth goal of the campaign in the second-half rout. Although it seems unusual for an £11m signing not to be a guaranteed starter, Celtic supporters were heartened to see Hogh embracing Osmand when substituted, indicating no ego issues regarding a spell out of the first-choice eleven.
BBC Scotland pundit Andy Halliday stated on The Monday Night Club that Celtic’s optimal front line currently does not include their record signing. While acknowledging Hogh’s past scoring record against elite opposition like Manchester City, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid, Halliday noted that the Dane is simply a goalscorer who is not currently scoring.
In contrast, Duran has recorded 14 goal contributions—nine goals and five assists—in 15 matches. Halliday pointed out that Duran offers significantly more all-around play than Hogh, highlighting an instance against Hearts where Duran capitalized on a loose touch from Jamie McCart, a ball he believes Hogh would not have reached.
O’Neill maintains confidence that Hogh will reach 20 goals this season given his prior record at Bodo/Glimt, but Halliday concluded that the forward is not doing enough right now to merit a place in the attack, leaving O’Neill’s current preferred front three as the trio that dismantled Hearts.
Source: BBC Sport
