Martin O’Neill’s Celtic Selection Decision Raises Fresh Questions After Dundee United Draw

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is facing increasing scrutiny over his team selection, with his continued decision to leave Haissem Hassan out of the starting line-up attracting criticism.

The Hoops were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Dundee United in their latest Scottish Premiership fixture, dropping two valuable points at Celtic Park.

Despite taking the lead, the Scottish champions struggled to maintain control and found themselves 2-1 behind when the half-time whistle sounded.

O’Neill’s side responded positively after the interval, taking control of proceedings and putting the visitors under sustained pressure. Celtic registered 19 shots in the second half alone as they searched for a winning goal, but ultimately had to settle for a share of the points.

There was at least some relief elsewhere for the Hoops, with Rangers also being held to a draw. That result ensured Celtic maintained their four-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

However, the latest dropped points should not distract from the concerns surrounding Celtic’s performances in recent weeks.

Their struggles have been particularly evident in European competition, where they have endured a difficult campaign without managing to secure a single victory. For a club with Celtic’s ambitions, remaining top of the domestic table is unlikely to be enough to satisfy supporters if their European performances do not improve.

The failure to overcome Dundee United at home will also frustrate the Celtic faithful, particularly considering they had initially taken the lead and were expected to collect maximum points.

O’Neill’s treatment of Haissem Hassan attracts attention

Questions surrounding O’Neill’s future have continued to emerge, with some supporters and observers suggesting that a change in the dugout could be necessary if performances do not improve.

However, one aspect of his management that deserves particular attention is his repeated decision to keep Haissem Hassan among the substitutes.

The winger has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter since arriving at Celtic, having been included in the starting XI for just five Scottish Premiership matches.

His overall involvement has also been limited, with the attacker accumulating only 461 minutes of league football so far.

Nevertheless, Hassan provided a reminder of his attacking qualities during the second half against Dundee United.

Introduced from the bench, the winger offered Celtic an additional attacking threat and played a part in their improved performance as they attempted to turn the game around.

His individual statistics highlighted his influence. Hassan recorded 10 touches inside the opposition penalty area, created two scoring opportunities for his teammates and registered four shots himself.

Those numbers underline the attacking contribution he was able to make in a relatively short period on the pitch.

With Celtic searching for greater consistency and creativity in the final third, O’Neill’s continued reluctance to hand Hassan more starting opportunities is likely to remain a talking point.

The winger’s performance against Dundee United has given supporters another reason to question whether he deserves a more prominent role in the Celtic starting XI.

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