Martin O’Neill has told his January signings that it’s now time for them to have a telling impact on the title race after so far failing to light up Celtic’s season.
The Parkhead club made six additions to the squad last month but, to date, only Julian Araujo – who arrived when Wilfried Nancy was in charge – has caught the eye.
Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu have just one goal apiece while Joel Mvuka hasn’t been seen since half-time in his debut in the Scottish Cup against Dundee.
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hooked at half-time at Ibrox and Benjamin Arthur an unused substitute, Araujo was the only one of the six new boys on the field at the end of the 2-2 draw.
Having been understanding to this point of the challenges facing any player arriving at a new club mid-season, O’Neill feels it’s now time for them to deliver.
Asked if he believed they could still have an impact, he said: ‘Yes, that was the expectation anyway. That’s exactly what you want to do.
Celtic’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled to make an impact and was hooked at half-time during the Old Firm derby
‘We’ve taken players in who, whatever they say about it, they might be playing in big leagues. But this is demanding – no more demanding than going to Ibrox for a start.
‘But yes, now that they’ve seen what this is all about, you want them to come in and make the impact in the last couple of months of the season.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain started brightly with a winning goal from the bench against Livingston but struggled to cope with the pace of the game at the weekend as Rangers surged onto a two-goal lead.
‘I think that was understandable,’ O’Neill reflected. ‘This might sound ridiculous as Alex has played big, big games throughout his career, but when you haven’t played for some time and are then thrown into that …
‘Whatever you talk about, the game is helter-skelter and so it was difficult for him in moments.
‘He showed a little bit of class here and there, but overall, I thought it was difficult. But again, he’ll settle it each day as he does more training. He’ll get used to it.
‘Do you know what? If he doesn’t kick another goal for us, he’s already played some part in that goal he scored. But I’d be hoping for a bit more over the next ten games.’
O’Neill also challenged Mvuka to put a difficult start behind him with the Norwegian winger failing to make a match-day squad after a forgettable debut.
‘I’m hoping there’ll be a bit of disappointment,’ said the manager. ‘He found it difficult in the first half of the Dundee game.
‘He’s been out of the picture a little while, but he’s trained very, very well.
‘One that you haven’t mentioned is Big Ben (Arthur) who I believe will be a player in his career.’
Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined as a free agent after the summer window closed, is another who’s been in and out of the squad since recovering from injury.
Although available for the trip to Aberdeen, O’Neill admits the ability of the forward to last the duration of matches is an issue.
‘I don’t think he’s played that much during the course of the season, to tell you the truth.
‘But I think he’s got a good ability to hold it up. It’s just in terms of full fitness and things, that’s a bit of a concern.’
Contrary to some suggestions, Michel-Ange Balikwisha is fit and available despite the £4.5million man not playing since the cup tie against Auchinleck on January 18.
Asked if the winger was injured, O’Neill said: ‘No, he hasn’t figured here at this minute. I do feel for him a little bit because my job is not to please everyone here at the football club.
‘I don’t think he’s had a proper chance. He certainly hasn’t had a proper chance under my time.’
Celtic’s Julian Araujo, who was brought in by Wilfried Nancy, has impressed
Meanwhile, O’Neill has told Reo Hatate that only he can change the narrative which surrounds him.
Off the pace all season, the Japanese produced an outstanding second-half display at Ibrox as the Champions bounced back to salvage a draw through his injury time penalty.
‘It’s up to him as the player,’ said O’Neill.
‘This is it. Reo’s been a really fine footballer here.
‘It’s been a tough old season for him. It’s been a tough old season for the football club.
‘So, if he could maintain that form, then he can be an asset to us.’
Asked if he was confident Hatate could maintain his form, O’Neill added: ‘Well, it would be easy for me to sit here and say that would be fantastic.
‘But that would really be up to the player as much as anything.
‘In terms of encouragement here, which is something that we can give him, absolutely.
‘He gets all the encouragement in the world from us. It wouldn’t be on that scoring that he would fail.’
With Kasper Schmeichel still unwell, Viljami Sinisalo will retain his place in goal against Aberdeen as Celtic look to move into second place in the table.
