Celtic’s stunning 7-1 demolition of Hearts on Sunday answered plenty of questions about Martin O’Neill’s side — but it also raised an awkward one: is the club’s £11 million record signing Kasper Hogh now fighting for his place?
Kasper Hogh (Credits: BBC Sport)
Benched for the visit of last season’s Scottish Premiership runners-up, Hogh watched a dynamic front three of Camilo Duran, Callum Osmand and Haissem Hassan tear Hearts apart in a scintillating attacking display. The trio had finished Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League defeat at Benfica together — and started Sunday’s rout, which Hearts simply could not live with.
O’Neill Backs His £11m Man — But Numbers Talk
Hogh has scored in just one of his 12 Celtic appearances: a hat-trick at Kilmarnock back in August. After being hooked at half-time in Lisbon, O’Neill backed the Denmark forward to still end the campaign with 20 goals, admitting the 25-year-old is low on confidence.
“He has lost a bit of confidence, but we will get that back during the course of time,” the veteran boss said. “We have game after game after game between now and January, but he will score goals for us, there is no question about it.”
Hogh did come off the bench on Sunday to set up Benjamin Nygren for Celtic’s seventh goal — his second assist in a week after teeing up the Swede at Motherwell. But the starting question lingers, and pundits are divided.
Pundits: Celtic’s Best Frontline Might Not Include Hogh
Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan didn’t hesitate: “If I’m a creative player and I’ve got Duran and Hogh to pick from, I’m taking Duran every day of the week. He looks to get off the side of defenders. If you put a ball into the area, he’s more likely to be alive to it.”
An Osmand double helped Celtic establish a 5-1 half-time lead, while Duran’s ninth goal of the campaign — part of 14 goal contributions in 15 games — underlined why he’s been the standout of Celtic’s summer arrivals.
“There have been question marks over whether Celtic’s best attack involves Hogh. For me, it doesn’t,” said BBC Scotland pundit Andy Halliday. “There’s no doubt there’s a goalscorer in there with Hogh. You don’t score in the Champions League against Manchester City, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid if you’re not. He’s just a goalscorer who isn’t scoring goals.”
For now, Celtic fans can take comfort from Hogh’s attitude — he embraced fellow forward Osmand as he left the pitch at half-time, suggesting ego won’t derail the team dynamic. With a Europa League clash against Celta Vigo on Thursday, the £11m man may get his chance to answer the debate on the pitch.
Also Read: Hearts Humiliated by Celtic — but Would Vrancken Do Anything Differently? | Scottish Football Weekend: Ross County Hammer Queen of the South 7-1
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.