Celtic’s first major January departure is rapidly becoming a foregone conclusion. A once reliable presence in the backline has been completely frozen out by Martin O’Neill.
The full-back now finds himself in a virtually irrelevant role at Parkhead.
He contributed 35 appearances across all competitions last season.
That solid campaign even earned him a Scotland call-up during the summer. Yet the 27-year-old’s Celtic career now appears to be drawing to a close.
The numbers tell a stark story this term.
He has been relegated to fourth-choice right-back and has barely featured. Appearances were limited to the Champions League qualifying play-offs and just 10 minutes of Europa League football.
Beyond those brief outings, opportunities have dried up completely. In the Premiership he has not played a single minute. He has only been named on the bench twice and left out of the matchday squad for every other league fixture.
Colby Donovan has seized the role of Alistair Johnston’s primary backup after impressing during the Canadian international’s absences. Jordan Lotomba arrived late in the summer window and settled in as the clear third option at right-back.
Anthony Ralston’s demotion represents a dramatic fall for a player who was previously the established number two. A large portion of his minutes last season came while Johnston recovered from injury, yet he remained a trusted deputy throughout that campaign.
Why the Sudden Drop Down the Pecking Order Stands Out
The decision to bring in Lotomba therefore raised eyebrows among observers. Strengthening an already competitive right-back area pushed the experienced full-back further down the hierarchy. He now trails both first-choice Johnston and the impressive Donovan.
Celtic sit in a strong position in the Scottish Premiership table as the season approaches the midway point. O’Neill’s side have shown consistency in domestic competition, blending defensive solidity with quick transitions on the break.
The right-back slot has been one of the more stable areas of the team. That stability only intensifies the questions surrounding the continued exclusion of a player who contributed regularly just months ago.
Contract Reality Forces the Club’s Hand
The defender is out of contract next summer. Celtic will almost certainly look to sell him in January rather than risk losing him for nothing when his deal expires. That commercial logic is straightforward and difficult to ignore for any well-run club.
There is pure speculation that the sudden omission could relate to a potential contract trigger. Some deals contain clauses that activate an automatic one-year extension if a player reaches a certain number of appearances in the final season of his contract.
Whether such a clause exists in this case remains unconfirmed. What is clear is that the player no longer features in Martin O’Neill’s plans. The manager has made his preference for other options abundantly obvious through consistent selection decisions.
Fan Reaction and Dressing-Room Dynamics
Supporters have noticed the shift in status. Online discussions among Celtic fans frequently highlight the strange nature of the fall from favour. Many point out that the full-back was a dependable squad player only months ago.
Questions have been raised about whether the current hierarchy is entirely performance-based. Others accept the reality of squad evolution and competition for places. With Donovan showing genuine promise and Lotomba adding useful depth, the right-back area has simply moved on.
Still, the lack of even occasional Premiership minutes has frustrated a section of the support. Those fans value the player’s experience, attitude and previous contributions during title challenges and European nights.
Inside the dressing room the situation is likely professional but awkward. Players understand that managers make ruthless choices based on what they see in training and matches. The prolonged absence from matchday squads, however, makes the writing on the wall impossible to miss for everyone involved.
What the Player Offers a Potential New Club
At 27, he remains an experienced operator capable of performing at a solid level. He is a decent defender who can also fill in across the backline if required by a new manager. Any club seeking reliable Premier League, Championship or Scottish Premiership depth would view him as a low-risk addition.
He is likely to be available on the cheap in January. In some scenarios a free transfer or nominal fee could be agreed to facilitate a swift and clean exit. That affordability will broaden the list of potential suitors significantly.
The player himself will be desperate to secure regular football again. Spending the second half of the season starved of meaningful minutes serves no one, least of all a professional still in his mid-twenties. A move that guarantees game time will be the clear priority when the window opens.
Tactical Context Under Martin O’Neill
O’Neill has favoured a structured defensive shape throughout this season. Full-backs are asked to balance progressive carrying with disciplined recovery runs and positional awareness. Johnston has largely thrived in that exact role when available and fully fit.
Donovan has shown the energy, recovery pace and positioning required to cover the position effectively in the Canadian’s absence. Lotomba brings a different profile shaped by his continental experience and adds another layer of competition.
The hierarchy that has emerged leaves little room for a fourth senior right-back. The player’s style, once valued for its reliability and consistency, no longer aligns closely enough with the current tactical demands of the system.
Celtic’s recent form has been steady rather than spectacular. Solid results against mid-table sides have kept the team in the upper reaches of the Premiership table. European progress has been more mixed, placing additional importance on squad harmony and clear pathways for every member of the group.
Looking Ahead to the January Transfer Window
All signs point to this becoming Celtic’s first confirmed January departure. The club will want the situation resolved cleanly so that the remaining squad can focus fully on domestic and European targets without distraction. A sale would also free up wage budget and a senior squad place for other priorities.
For the player, the coming weeks will involve carefully assessing available options. Championship clubs in England, ambitious Premiership sides north of the border, or even opportunities further afield could emerge as realistic destinations. His Scotland recognition during the summer still carries weight with potential employers looking for proven experience.
Celtic supporters will watch developments closely once the window opens. While few expect a route back into the first-team picture under the current manager, many will hope he finds a club where he can restart his career with regular and meaningful minutes.
Broader Implications for Squad Planning
This episode underlines the competitive depth O’Neill has deliberately built at right-back. Having three viable options ranked ahead of the experienced full-back reflects careful and proactive recruitment over the past window. It also highlights how quickly a player’s status can change when new arrivals settle and existing squad members seize limited opportunities.
Donovan’s rise has been particularly noteworthy in this context. The young full-back has used his chances to demonstrate composure on the ball and athletic recovery ability. That internal competition is healthy for the team even if it leaves senior professionals on the outside looking in for extended periods.
Lotomba’s late-summer arrival now looks like a calculated move to future-proof the position for the medium term. Celtic clearly prioritised cover that fits the preferred tactical system over retaining every previous squad member at all costs. The current situation is simply the logical outcome of those decisions.
A Career Crossroads at This Stage
The player leaves Celtic with a respectable body of work behind him. He contributed during title challenges and European campaigns, and he earned international recognition along the way. Those achievements will form a solid foundation for the next chapter of his career.
The immediate priority remains securing a move that restores match sharpness and confidence. Regular football at this stage is essential if he is to maintain or improve his overall level. A prolonged period on the sidelines would risk unnecessary stagnation for a defender still capable of performing at a good standard.
Celtic, for their part, will move on without significant disruption to the first-team group. The right-back department remains well-stocked with quality and competition. O’Neill’s preferred hierarchy is already clearly established through consistent selection.
The focus for the team will stay on maintaining Premiership momentum and navigating the remaining European fixtures successfully. In the end, football careers often reach these inflection points where opportunities dry up and new paths must be found.
The path from regular contributor to peripheral figure has been swift in this instance. The January window now offers both player and club the chance to reset and move forward separately in a clean manner. Whether the exit is completed early in the window or closer to the deadline, the outcome feels inevitable given the current circumstances.
The time as a meaningful part of the Celtic squad has effectively ended under Martin O’Neill. The only remaining question is which club will benefit from the experience, leadership and defensive reliability that is still clearly on offer.