Martin O’Neill has explained why Julián Araujo is missing from the squad for the Premiership match against Motherwell, ending a short spell of uncertainty around the defender.
Araujo was absent from both the starting line-up and the substitutes’ bench at Celtic Park. His omission stood out because the right-back had been involved regularly since arriving on loan earlier in the year. Supporters had not heard of any injury during the week, which led to questions when the team was announced.
The defender had played in recent high-profile games. He featured during the intense Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox the previous weekend, a game that stretched to extra time before Celtic progressed on penalties. Matches played at that tempo can leave players carrying knocks that only become clear later.
O’Neill confirmed after the match that Araujo had picked up a minor problem during the week and the club chose not to risk him.
He said: (BBC Sport), “He’s picked up an injury during the course of the week.
“Well, he felt very, very tight after Sunday’s game as well too, with a little bit of time he’s just felt a little bit in the thigh.
“And we thought well there’s no point in risking it.
“And just leave him for today.”
O’Neill’s explanation points to a precaution rather than a long-term issue. A tight thigh can easily worsen if a player pushes through it, especially after a demanding match that included extra time.
Celtic’s schedule has also been busy. The squad had just come through a draining cup tie at Ibrox and still face important league matches before the split.
Leaving Araujo out for one game allows him time to recover fully rather than risking a longer absence. That approach often proves sensible during the final stretch of a season.
If the problem settles quickly, the defender should return to contention in the coming games as Celtic continue their push in both the Premiership and the Scottish Cup.
