CELTIC’S £17m MYSTERY DEEPENS AFTER RANGERS DEFEAT

Celtic’s lack of goals has become an increasingly obvious concern, with the champions managing just two strikes across their last four matches.

Both have come from Mika Baur, who opened his Celtic account in the 1-0 Premiership victory over St Johnstone before finding the net again in the 3-1 Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros.

That is hardly the kind of attacking output Martin O’Neill would have expected from a squad containing a £17million strike partnership.

Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran have both struggled to make an impact in front of goal during a difficult spell for Celtic. Neither has scored in the club’s last five matches, with Liam Scales and Yang Hyun-jun providing the goals in the 2-1 win over St Mirren.

The pair also failed to find the net during the two recent Old Firm meetings, despite being expected to provide Celtic with the cutting edge in games of such importance.

Hogh’s current run is particularly striking given the way he started the season.

The Danish forward scored a hat-trick during Celtic’s 5-1 demolition of Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, but those remain his only goals in his last seven appearances.

An injury suffered during the Champions League qualifying defeat to LASK ruled him out of matches against Falkirk, Aberdeen and St Mirren, and he has since found his opportunities increasingly limited.

His display against Rangers at Ibrox did little to help his cause. Hogh was withdrawn shortly after the hour mark, with James Forrest introduced in his place.

O’Neill then opted against starting him in the Europa League meeting with Ferencvaros or the subsequent league clash with Rangers at Celtic Park.

On both occasions, Hogh was introduced at half-time, replacing Oliver Sørensen against the Hungarians before taking over from Luke McCowan in the latest derby.

Duran has also seen his influence diminish despite a blistering start to life in Glasgow.

The Colombian had scored six times in five games earlier in the campaign, but he was substituted with 23 minutes remaining against Rangers as O’Neill turned to Sebastian Tounekti.

That decision would previously have been met with considerable frustration from the Celtic support, particularly with the team chasing an equaliser. Instead, the reaction was noticeably subdued.

The £6million signing from Qarabag now finds himself competing for a place while operating predominantly from the flanks rather than through the middle.

That creates another problem for O’Neill: finding a system capable of getting the best from two of Celtic’s biggest attacking investments.

Hogh’s confidence appears to be a major issue.

His early-season hat-trick demonstrated exactly what he can offer when playing with conviction. His first goal against Kilmarnock came from a powerful back-post header after Engels delivered from the left.

He was presented with similar opportunities against both Ferencvaros and Rangers, but failed to make proper contact on each occasion despite having the time and space to attack the crosses.

Had either chance been converted, the discussion around Hogh’s recent performances could have been very different.

Duran presents a different tactical challenge. There is little doubt that he possesses considerable attacking ability, but his effectiveness can be reduced when he is stationed wide rather than given a central role.

O’Neill therefore has a sizeable tactical puzzle to solve if Celtic are to get both forwards firing again.

The international break could offer Hogh and Duran an opportunity to rebuild some confidence.

Hogh has joined Denmark for their Nations League fixtures against Norway, Portugal and Wales, while Duran has received his first Colombia call-up and is in line to make his senior debut during their upcoming friendlies.

If either player can return to Glasgow with renewed confidence, Celtic will hope that translates into goals when domestic action resumes.

Their next opportunity comes against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, October 11.