Celtic’s Bomb Squad Is Growing — McCowan Talks, Tounekti Taxi Rumours and O’Neill’s Big Decisions

There is a growing sense that Martin O’Neill is beginning to separate the players he trusts from those who are struggling to find a way into his Celtic team.

Luke McCowan is the latest talking point, with the midfielder having gone six matches without an appearance and finding himself outside the matchday squad altogether.

However, O’Neill has now revealed that he has spoken directly with McCowan about his situation, insisting that there are still opportunities for him to get back into the picture before Christmas.

Speaking about the midfielder, O’Neill admitted that he would be frustrated after the contribution he made last season. He also praised his performances in training, describing him as someone who works extremely hard.

Importantly, O’Neill was keen to make clear that McCowan was not to blame for Celtic’s recent problems. He believes the midfielder lost some confidence following the defeats against Rangers and LASK, but insisted that he is far from being at rock bottom.

That is an interesting development, particularly when you consider McCowan signed a new contract earlier this year. You would imagine he expected to play a much bigger role than the one he currently finds himself in.

But McCowan is not the only player who appears to be on the outside looking in.

Tony Ralston has also struggled for opportunities, while Sebastian Tounekti’s situation has become increasingly difficult to ignore.

A rumour circulated following Celtic’s recent fixtures that Tounekti had become so frustrated at being left out of the squad that he got off the team bus and took a taxi home.

However, it remains an unverified story and should be treated as a rumour rather than an established fact.

Nevertheless, Tounekti’s lack of involvement is a genuine concern. He started against Benfica in Europe but has found domestic opportunities difficult to come by, particularly with Jota returning and Callum Osmand being used on the left.

There is also the wider question of what happens to players who have fallen out of favour. Tounekti arrived with long-term contract, but has never established himself as a regular.

Celtic cannot afford to have expensive signings sitting on the sidelines without a clear plan for their future.

O’Neill has also suggested that he understands the frustration of players who go four or five weeks without playing. He acknowledged that, over a longer period, players naturally begin thinking about their futures and whether they need to move elsewhere to get regular football.

That is an important admission.

McCowan, Ralston and Tounekti are in very different situations, but they are all examples of the difficult decisions facing the manager.

The question is whether these players can force their way back into contention or whether January will provide an opportunity for some to move on.

O’Neill has given McCowan until Christmas to make an impression, but there is no guarantee that the same opportunities will be available to everyone.

Celtic have a large squad, yet we still have questions about the balance and quality of the team. It makes little sense to keep players who are not contributing if there is no genuine pathway back into the first team.

The Celtic bomb squad might not be an official group, but there is certainly a growing list of players with something to prove.