Celtic had been hit with an enormous blow earlier this month when Arne Engels was compelled off within the first half with an harm towards Livingston within the Scottish Premiership.
The Belgium worldwide needed to be withdrawn from play after simply 32 minutes after struggling a thigh harm, and he was changed by Reo Hatate in a 2-1 win for the hosts at Parkhead.
Martin O’Neill subsequently revealed that the central midfielder is because of be out of motion till the opposite facet of the worldwide break in March.
Because of this the £11m signing will miss a complete of 9 matches, together with the 2 that he has already missed, in whole by the beginning of April, which is a major chunk of video games to be absent for.
Engels, who has delivered 5 objectives and 7 assists this season, began six of his eight outings within the Europa League and was changed within the beginning line-up by Paulo Bernardo towards Stuttgart on Thursday.
Why Celtic want to maneuver on from Paulo Bernardo
The previous Portugal U21 worldwide was chosen to play in the midst of the park with Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren, however didn’t ship a powerful efficiency.
Bernardo got here off the pitch after 62 minutes with zero tackles gained, zero duels gained, and 0 key passes or photographs, which illustrates his lack of influence out and in of possession.
It was solely his third begin in all competitions in 2026, which is why he wanted to make a powerful impression on O’Neill, however he misplaced each of his duels, didn’t even try a deal with, and supplied little or no offensively.
|
Vs Stuttgart |
Paulo Bernardo |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
62 |
|
Duels gained |
0/2 |
|
Tackles |
0 |
|
Profitable dribbles |
0/1 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Large possibilities created |
0 |
|
Pictures |
0 |
|
Profitable crosses |
0/1 |
The central midfielder’s disappointing efficiency towards Stuttgart comes after he was substituted at half-time towards Dundee within the SFA Cup in his final begin, displaying the supervisor was not happy along with his show on that day.
Celtic wanted Bernardo on Thursday as a result of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ineligible and Engels is injured, however O’Neill might put an finish to his profession at Parkhead by unleashing a participant in a brand-new position.
The Celtic participant who might play in a brand-new position
If the Hoops get to a different sport within the coming weeks when Oxlade-Chamberlain is just not prepared to begin and the supervisor wants one other midfielder to fill out the beginning XI, Bernardo must be ignored in favour of experimenting with one other participant.
Celtic signed Marcelo Saracchi on mortgage from Boca Juniors final summer season to offer back-up to Kieran Tierney at left-back and he has been an astute piece of enterprise, displaying nice technical high quality in his performances for the membership.
The Uruguay worldwide has by no means began a senior membership sport as a central or defensive midfielder in his profession, however he has began 63 video games as a left midfielder, which reveals that he’s not unfamiliar with enjoying additional up the pitch than left-back.
Saracchi has a candy left foot, as completely illustrated by his first help for the membership with a superb cross for Daizen Maeda, and may very well be match for a central midfield place attributable to each his creativity and technical high quality.
Within the Scottish Premiership this season, the Uruguayan star has scored one purpose, created two ‘large possibilities’, and offered one help in eight begins for the Hoops, scoring his first purpose within the current win over Livingston.
The technical high quality that he has exhibited to rack up these statistics means that he might do a job in the midst of the park as a back-up central midfield choice forward of Bernardo, who has zero objectives and 0 ‘large possibilities’ created in seven league video games.
|
25/26 Premiership |
Marcelo Saracchi |
|---|---|
|
Begins |
8 |
|
Cross accuracy |
88% |
|
Key passes |
9 |
|
Large possibilities created |
2 |
|
Floor duel success fee |
50% |
|
Aerial duel success fee |
73% |
Saracchi, as a pure defender, additionally has the bodily attributes to compete in midfield, profitable the overwhelming majority of his aerial duels within the league, which signifies that he wouldn’t get bullied by bodily Premiership midfielders.
He’s composed underneath stress and might play by way of an opposition press, as evidenced by his excessive move accuracy, and that signifies that he wouldn’t be too fazed by being pressed in midfield.
The 27-year-old, subsequently, seems to have the technical and bodily attributes to go well with a midfield position, regardless of by no means having performed in that place, however a stumbling block is that he’s not used to the position and the positions that he must take up on the pitch.
If O’Neill and his teaching workers take the time to work on that with him on the coaching pitch and he can take that info onboard, the uncooked supplies of a helpful central midfield choice are there.
Celtic would then be capable of transfer on from Bernardo as a first-team choice, as Saracchi could be one other participant between him and the pitch, earlier than doubtlessly promoting him in the summertime window, ending his profession at Parkhead.
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This Celtic star seems to be just like the membership’s finest signing since they introduced Matt O’Riley to the membership from MK Dons.
