When Celtic kicked off their Scottish Premiership campaign on Monday night, attention naturally centred on the players whose futures have dominated the headlines in recent weeks.
Celtic duo Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels both started the victory despite ongoing speculation linking them with Everton and West Ham United. New arrivals Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran were also handed their competitive debuts from the first whistle.
Hogh had chances to mark the occasion with his first Celtic goal but could not find the finish. Even so, the Danish forward struck a positive note after the match, insisting he would keep working hard and that the goals would come.
One player who barely entered the conversation was Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
The Belgian winger was not simply left out of the starting XI; he did not make the matchday squad at all. That omission inevitably raises fresh questions over where he stands in Martin O’Neill’s plans.
Balikwisha arrived from Royal Antwerp in August 2025 in a deal worth around £5 million. A year on, he has yet to establish himself as a regular option.
His competitive record stands at 14 appearances, no goals and two assists. When opportunities have come, they have been limited, and he has struggled to make a lasting impression.
There were signs during pre-season that he might still have a part to play. Balikwisha featured against Shelbourne, Sporting CP and Middlesbrough as O’Neill assessed his squad ahead of the new campaign.
It seems increasingly apparent that his summer involvement was simply due to a shortage in attacking areas while players were granted extended breaks.
Earlier in the summer, O’Neill even spoke about the possibility of using the DR Congo international in a central attacking role rather than keeping him out wide. It hinted at a willingness to find a position that could get the best out of a player who has yet to show why Celtic invested heavily in him.
Monday’s squad selection, however, paints a different picture.
With Balikwisha unable to make the bench for the opening league fixture, it is difficult to argue he is anywhere near the front of the queue. That is particularly notable at a time when many supporters believe the squad still needs fresh additions before the transfer window closes.
The transfer deadline on September 3 is now coming into sharper focus.
Celtic still have decisions to make across the squad, and Balikwisha’s future is becoming one of the more intriguing situations. Whether O’Neill believes there is still a player worth persevering with, or whether Celtic decide to move him on before the window shuts, his omission against the opening-day opponents has only added to the uncertainty surrounding his place at Parkhead.
