Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has a significant decision to make about his goalkeeper for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox. This follows Sam Johnstone's impressive debut in a 1-0 Premiership victory over St Johnstone in Perth, as reported by The Scotsman Football this week.
Johnstone, a loanee from Wolves, started ahead of regular keeper Viljami Sinisalo and kept a clean sheet. His fine first-half save from Joel Cotterill when the scores were level proved vital. O'Neill praised the new arrival's performance, stating, "Yes, he's done very, very well indeed." The Northern Irish boss held discussions with Sinisalo before the match to explain the selection, and the Finnish international accepted the decision.
Who will start in goal at Ibrox?
The choice between Johnstone's fresh momentum and Sinisalo's established role is now O'Neill's primary concern ahead of the cup clash. Celtic's strong league form provides a solid backdrop for this decision. They sit first in the Premiership with a perfect record of five wins from five games, holding a three-point lead over Heart of Midlothian. Their defensive record shows just three goals conceded this season, a foundation any keeper would want to protect. You can view the full standings for the latest table.
What is the latest on Carter-Vickers?
Another key selection puzzle involves centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers. He was left out completely from the matchday squad in Perth, with Dane Murray starting in his place. O'Neill revealed Carter-Vickers, who has hardly missed a minute of pre-season or competitive action, was feeling sore after returning from a year out. The manager hopes to have the defender available for the Old Firm fixture, acknowledging his importance to the backline. O'Neill also expressed strong belief in Murray's abilities, stating he has "a lot of time" for the young defender and believes he has a proper career and a decent future ahead of him.
How is Camilo Duran being managed?
In-form forward Camilo Duran was used from the bench against St Johnstone, a move designed to keep him fresh for the Rangers match. O'Neill confessed the player had looked tired in the previous game against St Mirren. The manager holds Duran in extremely high regard, saying, "He's just been class." O'Neill ranks the forward second only to Daizen Maeda for his work rate and closing down of opponents, highlighting his critical role in the team's high-press system. Check the current squad for all player details.
How did Celtic secure the win in Perth?
Celtic took time to find their rhythm at McDiarmid Park. O'Neill noted they started with plenty of possession but lacked presence in the penalty area. Johnstone's key save was identified as a major moment that prevented a potential repeat of the frustrating result against St Mirren. The game turned in the 52nd minute when Mika Baur scored the decisive goal. Celtic increased their tempo in the second half, saw the game out professionally, but O'Neill admitted they could have scored more and made the victory look more difficult than necessary. The team has scored 13 goals in the league so far, demonstrating their attacking threat.
With the cup tie looming, O'Neill's selections in goal and defence will be scrutinized. The team then returns to league action on December 26th with a home fixture against Motherwell, who are currently fifth in the table. All future match details are available on the club's fixtures page.
