There is more bad news for Celtic, following another defeat against the Rangers, as one player was pictured in a protective boot on Sunday.
The bad news just keeps coming for Celtic. On Sunday, they missed the mark again. Martin O'Neill named a defensive lineup at home against the Rangers, a week after losing 3-0 to them at Ibrox.
The scoreline was less one-sided but the result would not have been any easier to digest for Celtic fans, as the Hoops failed to find a way past the Rangers' defence again and lost 1-0 this time around.
The team has seemed low on confidence since that loss to LASK in the second leg, getting knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers as a result despite being 4-0 up with an hour to go in the tie.
Now, they have lost three games on the trot. Twice against the Rangers, and a defeat to Ferencvaros in their Europa League opener sandwiched in between.
The international break has come at the right time for Celtic. It could be a time to reset. But there is more bad news for O'Neill's side.
Celtic signing pictured in protective boot
Celtic did not finish the transfer window strong, relying on loan additions for the most part after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
They had not been linked with most of the players they ended up signing until that point. One such name was that of Joel van den Berg.
The Hoops clearly needed to strengthen their midfield this summer following the summer exits of starting-level players like Arne Engels and Reo Hatate.
So, it is hard to imagine that someone like Van den Berg, a 19-year-old with just six senior appearances to his name, was ever going to be the solution. Unsurprisingly, that has proven to be the case.
Van den Berg is yet to make his debut for Celtic. And now, it looks like he is already injured as well.
Pictures have emerged on social media of Van den Berg in a protective boot on Sunday, as he was once again not named in the matchday squad. At least that explains why.
Celtic missed the mark this summer again
Pretty much every summer since Ange Postecoglou left in 2023, Celtic have ended up weakening the squad that won the treble under the Australian manager.
This summer proved to be no different. They lost key players like Engels, Hatate and Daizen Maeda. And for inexplicable reasons, they did not end up retaining the services of Kelechi Iheanacho or bringing back someone like Marcelo Saracchi.
Relying on players in their teens and early 20s, signed late in the window to make up the numbers, might have been the last straw.
