Martin O’Neill has big decisions to make before Celtic even kick a ball in the Europa League play-offs, and some players will be left disappointed come tonight’s deadline.
The squad submission deadline for the play-off round is approaching fast, and the Celtic manager is tight on space. Stuttgart await later this month with a place in the last 16 on the line, and Porto already awaits the winner.
Celtic are permitted a 25-man list and can add up to three new eligible players after the league phase. January brought five loan arrivals in Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur. The maths does not work cleanly.
At least two of those players will be watching from the stands in Europe. There is no creative way around it; someone has to miss out.
This is even before the potential arrival of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Premier League star is a free agent and has been training with his former side Arsenal, with fresh talks with Celtic taking place.
O’Neill has already burned one of his administrative moves. In November, Celtic used the UEFA injury replacement provision to remove Cameron Carter-Vickers and register Callum Osmand. Both are now sidelined through injury, which leaves that slot open again and almost certainly earmarked for one of the January signings.
The right-back position looks like a pressure point. Alistair Johnston has barely featured due to a persistent hamstring issue and while there is hope of a March return, European football does not wait. Julian Araujo arrives as a natural replacement and has slotted in comfortably at the back.
Johnny Kenny’s loan move to Bolton Wanderers has also helped ease the squeeze. His departure frees another place, bringing Adamu and Mvuka firmly into the conversation. Both offer different profiles, both arrived to play, and both will want to be involved.
Benjamin Arthur appears the most vulnerable. He is young, untested at this level, and the Europa League knockouts are no place for sentiment.
UEFA’s homegrown rules add another layer of complication. Eight of the 25 must be locally trained, which limits flexibility and makes every decision interconnected. Drop one player and three others suddenly matter more.
This is not about prestige or optics. It is about who Celtic believe can actually contribute against Stuttgart over two legs. O’Neill has built enough credit to make tough calls, but these, in particular, will be scrutinised.
From the five new arrivals, it seems like Araujo and Cvancara are the obvious immediate selections. With cover on the wing thin, Mvuka will fancy his chances, but can O’Neill afford to leave out Adamu given how desperate we are for cover up front?
European football at this stage is ruthless. Squad places are currency, and Celtic don’t have enough to go around.
The Hoops will face Stuttgart at home in the first leg on Thursday, 19 February, with the decider in Germany on 26 February.
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