O'Neill backs misfiring Celtic star to 'score 20 goals' after 14-game barren run

17 Oct 2026 18:04 BST 2 min read

Suraj Radia | Editor

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Martin O’Neill has leapt to the defence of club record signing Kasper Hogh after his barren run in front of goal extended to 13 games for club and country.

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Hogh arrived from Bodo/Glimt in the summer for around €13 million, having been the Norwegian side’s top scorer for two years straight, however the 25-year-old has struggled for form since joining Celtic.

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Despite netting a hat-trick on his second appearance for Celtic against Kilmarnock, Hogh has not found the back of the net outside that game and he was substituted at half-time in the Europa League match this week against Benfica after missing a number of chances.

However, O’Neill insisted he had every faith that Hogh would return to his best during the next few months for Celtic and backed his number nine to score 20 goals by the end of the season.

“At the end of the season I expect Kasper Hogh to score 20 goals,” O’Neill told Sky Sports. “He’s lost a little bit of confidence. We’ll get that back over the course of time. We’ve got game after game after game.

“We’ve got pretty much a thousand games between now and January so he will score goals, there’s no questions about it.”

Kasper Hogh: Celtic star facing Duran pressure after fan criticism over form

Hogh’s form has coincided with a poor run of results for Celtic in which they have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions, including two against bitter rivals Rangers.

The situation has led to Hogh receiving criticism from fans who expected more from their record signing, with fellow summer arrival Camilo Duran scoring in his last two appearances to pile the pressure on his teammate.

© IMAGO - Kasper Hogh has struggled for form at Celtic.

Duran has largely been used as a wide forward for Celtic to accommodate Hogh but O’Neill may be convinced to move the Colombian up front if Hogh’s form does not improve.

“That would have been nice if he’d scored that goal,” O’Neill told Herald, referring to Hogh’s missed chance against Benfica. “Because at the end of it all, centre-forwards or strikers live or die by goals. They really do.

“That was a good chance to score on Thursday night. But overall, over the course of the season, I think he’ll be absolutely fine.

“At this minute, he just needs a goal because it does give you a big boost of confidence.”