Camilo Duran Concern Emerges Ahead of Sporting

By
Michael Shearer
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Lisbon, Portugal. 16th Sep, 2025. Estadio da Luz Camilo Duran of Qarabag FK during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between SL Benfica and Qarabag FK at Estadio da Luz on September 16, 2025 UEFA Champions League League Phase MD1 - SL Benfica vs Qarabag FK (Valter Gouveia/SPP) Credit: SPP Sport Press Photo. /Alamy Live News

Martin O’Neill has revealed Camilo Duran missed Celtic training through illness ahead of Tuesday’s pre-season friendly against Sporting CP.

The summer signing is now a doubt for the match at the Estádio Algarve, which brings Celtic’s Portugal training camp to an end. The game will be shown live to CelticPlayer subscribers.

Duran joined his new teammates at the camp after completing his move to Celtic and had been taking part in training as he settled into O’Neill’s squad.

However, his preparations were interrupted when he was unable to join Monday’s session.

Speaking to the Daily Record, O’Neill said: “He didn’t train today because he was ill. So we’ll see how he is.”

The manager’s brief update leaves Duran’s involvement against Sporting uncertain.

Celtic will assess how the forward feels before deciding whether he can feature, with O’Neill unlikely to take any unnecessary chances during pre-season.

Supporters had been hoping to get their first look at Duran in a Celtic shirt after the striker joined the squad in Portugal.

The Sporting match would have offered him an early opportunity to build an understanding with his new teammates and get some match sharpness before Celtic return to Scotland.

His absence from training is not believed to be injury-related, but illness could still delay his first appearance for the club.

O’Neill has already revealed Celtic had been looking at Duran since April, showing the move was planned well before the transfer was completed.

The forward will be expected to add another option to Celtic’s attack once he is fully available.

Sporting should provide Celtic with a demanding test after the Hoops opened their pre-season schedule with a 1-1 draw against Shelbourne in Dublin.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill during the pre-season friendly match at Tolka Park, Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday July 7, 2026.

O’Neill has used the Portugal camp to build fitness through a demanding programme which included several double sessions.

Tuesday’s friendly will allow him to assess how the squad have responded to that workload, although it remains unclear whether Duran will be able to play any part.

The Colombian’s condition will now be monitored ahead of the match, with Celtic waiting to see whether he recovers in time for a possible debut.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Calling in sick when your just in the door.Never a good look.Btw He looked totally pissed off in the training video the other day.Be more than happy to be reading too much into this.

    • Probably the fellas first day back training.

      I never had much of a smile on my face, first day back.

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