Celtic must recall Sebastian Tounekti to prevent Kilmarnock upset Celtic are set to face Kilmarnock in their second game of the season, and manager Martin O'Neill must recall Sebastian Tounekti to the starting XI to prevent an unexpected defeat. The Hoops have struggled at Rugby Park in recent years, and a win is crucial to their title aspirations. Tounekti was fundamental to Celtic's 3-2 comeback victory against Kilmarnock last season, and his recall could be the key to success.

What happened? In their last meeting, Tounekti had 10 touches in the opposition's box, the most in the game, and completed one successful dribble out of two attempted. He also made two defensive contributions in just 45 minutes.

Why it matters for Celtic Celtic's attack was poor in their opening game of the season, and recalling Tounekti makes sense, especially given his previous heroics against Kilmarnock.

What comes next? O'Neill must look to recall Tounekti to the starting XI again on Sunday to give the visitors the best chance of coming away with three points. Celtic have dominated against Kilmarnock across their entire history, with a head-to-head record of 39 wins, six losses, and eight draws. However, Killie have been competitive in many of the recent fixtures at Rugby Park, which has caused Celtic to miss out on numerous points. The Hoops are currently third in the Premiership, 67 points from 33 games, and are on a five-game winning run. They have scored 59 goals and conceded 35, with a goal difference of +24. Celtic's last result was a 3-1 win against Heart of Midlothian on May 16, 2026. Jota is currently sidelined, but Tounekti's recall could be the boost the team needs to continue their winning streak.