Martin O’Neill Reveals Left-Back Plan

Martin O’Neill has outlined Celtic’s options at left-back while Kieran Tierney remains sidelined.

Tierney missed Wednesday night’s 3-0 win over Aberdeen and is very unlikely to return against St Mirren, leaving Celtic without their first-choice left-back for the trip to Paisley.

Liam Scales filled in on the left against Aberdeen, but O’Neill now has two other options in mind following Celtic’s late-window business.

Landon Emenalo joined on loan from Chelsea, although the 18-year-old is still working his way back from an injury picked up during pre-season. O’Neill previously indicated that the youngster was still a few weeks away from being ready to feature.

He said: (TCW), “Landon [Emenalo] is making really decent progress and, famous last words, but I think he will be really good for us. Lotomba can also play on the left and that is in my thinking at this minute.”

Jordan Lotomba joined Celtic until the end of the season after leaving Feyenoord, with the Swiss international primarily used as a right-back during his career. Celtic’s move for him, however, always came with the benefit of positional flexibility.

His ability to operate on the opposite side now gives O’Neill another option while Tierney recovers.

That could prove useful in the short term, particularly with Emenalo not yet available and Tierney still working his way back to full fitness.

Scales remains capable of filling in on the left, but O’Neill’s comments make clear that Lotomba is also being considered there rather than being viewed solely as competition on the right.

Once Emenalo is fit, Celtic should have far more flexibility in that area, but for now O’Neill may have to be creative with how he covers Tierney’s absence.