As Celtic prepare for a defining Europa League knockout playoff against VfB Stuttgart, manager Martin O’Neill has been forced to shuffle his pack following a significant injury blow to record signing Arne Engels.
The Engels Timeline
Speaking following Celtic’s dramatic win over Kilmarnock, O’Neill confirmed that Engels will likely be sidelined until after the international break.
The Belgian midfielder suffered a thigh injury during the midweek Celtic Park victory against Livingston, and the prognosis suggests a six-week layoff.
“I don’t think we’ll have Arne back before the international window finishes at the end of March,” O’Neill admitted. “It’s a blow because he’s a vital component of our midfield, but it opens the door for others to step up.”
Jota and the Long-Term Absentees
While there was hope that Jota might return for the season’s run-in, the outlook has turned bleak.
The Portuguese winger has undergone a minor “tidy-up” keyhole surgery on his knee following a setback in his ACL recovery. O’Neill has now effectively ruled him out for the remainder of Celtic’s 2025/26 campaign, alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Defensive Boost for Celtic on the Horizon?
There is a glimmer of hope regarding Alistair Johnston. The Canadian right-back is “making a fight-back” from his hamstring issues and is targeting a return to full training by early March.
While the Stuttgart first leg comes too soon for him, January arrival Julian Araujo is expected to keep his place after his 97th-minute heroics at Rugby Park.
Tactical Analysis: The Hatate Factor
With Engels missing, the tactical burden shifts to Reo Hatate. Against a Stuttgart side that favors a high-intensity Bundesliga press, Hatate’s ability to transition the ball quickly will be the key to Celtic’s success.
While Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has impressed Celtic fans domestically, his absence from the Europa League squad list makes the availability of McCowan and Hatate even more critical for the Stuttgart tie.
Expect O’Neill to lean on the Japanese international’s creative vision to unlock a Stuttgart defense that has occasionally looked vulnerable on the counter-attack.
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