Celtic secured three points in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, edging past Kilmarnock 1-0 at Celtic Park. However, Martin O’Neill’s side had to work harder than expected to get the job done.
The Hoops entered the fixture hoping to build on their thrilling 3-2 Europa League victory over Beşiktaş. Confidence was high after that dramatic comeback, with the team back in front of its home supporters.
Despite controlling large periods of the contest, Celtic found it difficult to turn their opportunities into goals. The home side therefore had to remain patient and fight until the final whistle to protect its narrow advantage.
There were several frustrating moments for O’Neill’s men. Two goals were disallowed and a penalty was missed, leaving the contest tighter than Celtic would have wanted before Liam Scales eventually made the difference.
The defender found the net to secure the 1-0 victory, ensuring Celtic collected a valuable result. The win also allowed the champions to restore their four-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
That position followed Rangers’ 2-0 victory over St Mirren on Saturday, making the points important. Yet, while the result was welcome, an unfortunate development towards the end of the afternoon gave O’Neill another potential selection concern.
Celtic dealt worrying injury scare
Although the celebrations surrounding Scales’ winning goal and the three points were understandable, attention soon shifted to Mika Baur. The midfielder was forced out of the contest, creating concern.
The German had been handed a starting opportunity after Celtic’s European triumph against Beşiktaş. It was a chance to feature again after that impressive result, but his afternoon ended earlier than expected following an incident involving Kilmarnock’s Aaron Tshibola.
Baur appeared to suffer an injury during the challenge and was subsequently seen holding his knee. The incident raised concern, with the midfielder unable to carry on as the match continued.
Medical attention was required on the pitch before it became clear that he could not continue. O’Neill eventually made the change, turning to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who came on to replace the injured midfielder.
It was an unpleasant sight for Celtic supporters, particularly when having the squad available is important. The team is facing a demanding period of the campaign, making any fresh injury concern unwelcome.
The exact nature of Baur’s injury has not yet been confirmed. However, the fact that he needed treatment and could not finish the match will undoubtedly be a concern for the Celtic manager.
Why Baur’s injury is bad news for Celtic
Baur joined Celtic from Paderborn in August on a four-year contract, with the option of another year. He arrived to strengthen O’Neill’s midfield options and provide another choice in that area of the team.
The 22-year-old has been working his way into the side, giving the manager another option in midfield. Competition for places matters, and having additional players available gives O’Neill more choices when selecting his team.
His involvement against Kilmarnock represented another opportunity to build momentum after the impressive European result against Beşiktaş. Starting the league fixture offered him a chance to continue his involvement.
Unfortunately, the injury has now interrupted that progress. Being forced off before the final whistle means his immediate availability is uncertain, leaving Celtic waiting for further information about the problem.
Celtic are entering a crucial period in which they must balance their domestic ambitions with their European commitments. The schedule makes squad availability important, and losing another midfielder, even temporarily, would complicate O’Neill’s plans.
The timing is particularly frustrating because the manager will want as many players as possible available when the team returns from the international break. Any uncertainty over a midfielder adds another issue to consider.
With the exact nature of the injury still unknown, Celtic cannot yet determine how long the player might be unavailable. The immediate priority will be to establish what happened and understand whether the problem requires further assessment.
O’Neill awaits further news on midfielder
For now, Celtic supporters will be hoping that Baur’s injury is not as serious as it initially appeared. There is no confirmed diagnosis, so the full extent of the problem remains unclear.
O’Neill has yet to provide a definitive recovery timeframe, and no confirmed update has established how long the midfielder could be out. It would therefore be premature to suggest that he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The coming days should provide a clearer picture of the problem and whether further medical assessment is required. Until then, Celtic will have to wait for more information before knowing when he could return.
The uncertainty leaves O’Neill without a clear answer about the midfielder’s immediate availability. His condition will be watched closely as the club seeks clarity after the challenge during the Kilmarnock game on Sunday afternoon.
Celtic will be relieved to have collected all three points, especially after a contest that required patience and effort. However, the concern surrounding Baur has taken some of the shine off the victory.
The result followed a dramatic European night and provided another important domestic outcome for the champions. Even so, the injury worry was an unwanted development at the end of an afternoon that had delivered the required points.
After the European victory and another important league result, the last thing O’Neill needed was another injury concern. The manager must now wait for further news before knowing whether Baur will be available again soon.
The Hoops will be hoping their midfielder has avoided anything serious and can return to action as quickly as possible. Until more details emerge, supporters will be left waiting for clarity about his condition.
For Celtic, the outcome at Celtic Park was a 1-0 win and three valuable points. The team restored its four-point lead, but attention will now remain on the midfielder after his early exit.
The victory over Kilmarnock therefore brought both relief and concern for O’Neill’s side. Celtic achieved the result they wanted, although the injury situation means the manager must wait before assessing his midfield options.