O'Neill responds as record transfer 'offers nothing' and leaves Celtic match winner 'frustrated'

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Suraj Radia | Editor

Celtic are facing a crucial dilemma, with one of their summer signings proving a ‘frustrated’ figure despite providing the match winner for Martin O’Neill’s side on Sunday.

The Hoops came from behind to get a much-needed win away at Hibernian thanks to an own-goal from Jason Kerr and Camilo Duran’s tenth goal of the season despite starting on the right flank to allow record signing Kasper Hogh to play up front.

Hogh, once again, failed to score, to extend his run without a goal to 16 matches for club and country, while Duran’s body language suggested the Colombian may be ‘sulking’ about being forced out wide, according to ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

“I can totally understand his frustration. If Celtic hadn't paid £11million for Kasper Hogh, would they continue persevering with him up front? Because right now he's offering absolutely nothing,” Boyd told Sky Sports.

“When Duran plays through the middle, Celtic look a far better team. So yes, I can understand why he's frustrated. At the same time, he's scored another match-winning goal today. It's easy for us to sit here and say he's sulking, but he'll leave with the winner and he'll be happy with that.

“But I completely understand his point of view. If I'm the player scoring the goals and putting in the performances, and people are coming away from games saying I've been Celtic's best striker, why am I being moved out of position just to accommodate someone because of the transfer fee?

“I'll say it again, Kasper Hogh is offering absolutely nothing for me.”

O’Neill stands by misfiring Hogh despite Duran form for Celtic

Duran joined Celtic from Qarabag in the summer for €5.5m and he is Celtic’s joint-top scorer this season despite the majority of his minutes coming in an unfavoured wide role to suit Hogh, who has struggled since his €13m move from Bodo/Glimt.

Hogh netted a hat-trick in his second match for Celtic but has failed to score outside that game, however O’Neill has repeatedly defended the Danish international and insisted things will start clicking for him soon.

“I just think it’s the goals,” O’Neill told Sky Sports after the match. “I keep saying this, the goals will come. But I’m not just saying this to please myself or anything. I think they will come.

“If you’re a box player, sometimes it might not matter by what happens further out the field at the end of it all. But it’ll come good for him.”

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