Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers will draw a line under an incredibly eventful week.
Martin O’Neill admitted to being extremely nervous ahead of his managerial return against Falkirk, but it was ultimately the perfect start with a 4-0 win.
The team are still getting used to life without Brendan Rodgers, after his stunning resignation which sent shockwaves through Scottish football.
Dermot Desmond’s statement was so scathing regarding Rodgers that it temporarily deflected from the return of O’Neill, who will be assisted by Shaun Maloney.
And ahead of Sunday’s semi-final, Hugh Keevins has been discussing his brutal axing of one Celtic man.
Hugh Keevins on Martin O’Neill’s brutal axing of Yang Hyun-Jun
Rodgers’ Honda Civic comments will forever be associated with his eventual departure.
A desperately poor summer transfer window left him relying on squad players such as Yang Hyun-Jun.
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Hugh Keevins speaking live on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard radio show
Credit: YouTube/Clyde 1 Superscoreboard
Yang joined the Hoops in the summer of 2023, Rodgers’ first transfer window since returning. It is not a nice window to look back on for Hoops fans.
The fact that the 23-year-old is still on the books at Celtic is a damning indictment of the transfer business done by the club since.
Discussing the Hoops’ squad selection on Clyde Superscoreboard, Keevins discussed O’Neill’s decision to ‘bin’ the Korean, among other things.
He said: “You do the old favourite and see if Maeda can frighten the life out of James Tavernier.
“One of the great things about Martin O’Neill is that he immediately binned Yang, so he’ll be nowhere to be seen.
“I think [Kenny] will be entitled to think he’ll start. Someone will have to just take a hit and drop out. Hatate doesn’t deserve to play. He should be left out.
“He’s marvellous, but he just doesn’t merit a place.”
Who else was left out of Martin O’Neill’s Celtic squad vs Falkirk?
It’s no secret that the Hoops have a bloated squad, with what Rodgers would describe as ‘club signings’.
Also not in O’Neill’s matchday squad against Falkirk were the two signings which led Japanese fans to urge their players to stop joining Celtic.
Defender Hayato Inamura looked more than capable in his appearance against Livingston, but hasn’t been seen since. Shin Yamada was used as a substitute at Tynecastle, but bombed out of the squad for Falkirk.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is yet to play a minute for the Hoops since joining on loan from Manchester City.