Arne Engels Mystery

Arne Engels has stepped up his recovery once again, with the midfielder pictured back training at Lennoxtown this week as Celtic prepare to face St Mirren.

It has now been just over a week since Martin O’Neill last spoke about the Belgian, offering no firm timeline on his return ahead of the Dundee match. Since then, there has been little in the way of updates.

Engels was not involved at Dens Park, and his name did not feature heavily in the manager’s pre-match press conference earlier today either. That silence has left his situation open heading into the weekend.

What is clear, though, is that he has now had another full week on the training pitch. For a player who had been out since February, that steady build-up matters more than any quick return.

Celtic have managed without him, but the gap has been noticeable at times. In games where the tempo drops, they have lacked someone who can carry the ball through the middle and link play quickly in tight spaces.

Engels offers that. He is direct with his passing and willing to move beyond the ball, which gives Celtic a different option when teams sit in and close the game down.

That could be needed against St Mirren. At Celtic Park, the visitors are likely to sit deep and make it difficult, especially early on. Breaking that shape requires sharp movement and quick decision-making through midfield.

There is still no confirmation that Engels will be involved. O’Neill has not committed either way, and after a setback like his, caution is expected.

But another week of training puts him in the frame. Even a place on the bench would give Celtic something extra late in the game if it becomes tight.

With the run-in underway, having Engels back available would be a boost. Not just for this weekend, but for the games that follow, where small moments in midfield can decide the outcome.