On Sunday we saw the value of our two January signings: Julian Araujo won Man of the Match, while Tomas Cvancara scored the opening goal. Time will tell if February’s three additions will prove as effective.
Junior Adamu (24) is primarily a striker but plays across the front line. Like Tomas, he joins from the Bundesliga, where has two and a half years with Freiburg. Junior’s first season at Freiburg was spent largely as a substitute, but he became starting striker in season 2024-25. That status ended in November 2024 when he was red carded for violent conduct at Dortmund and received a three match ban. The player never recovered his regular starting spot after that setback until April.
Celtic have an option to buy the Nigeria-born Austria international. 10 goals in his breakthrough season in Austria with Salzburg got him the move to Germany. He has played a lot of football for a 24-year-old, so should be ready for the challenge of the Scottish Premiership.
Norwegian Joel Mvuka (22) had an anxious wait before his move to Celtic was confirmed late last night after issues with his medical. Consequentially, the deal was downgraded from a permanent transfer to a loan with an option to buy. You have probably seen him before, he made substitute appearances in both Europa League games against Celtic in 2022
After spending 18 months at Bodo/Glimt, he earned a move to Lorient, where he has mostly been used in right-midfield. I’m told he has pace to burn and will get up and down the right side to support attacking and defensive play.
Benjamin Arthur (20) arrived on loan from Brentford, allowing Stephen Welsh to return to Motherwell until the end of the season. Brentford have high hopes for the player, so there was no chance of an option to buy.
The others going out the door were Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who managed to convince three managers he had no interest in being at Celtic. Life tip: recruit attitude before talent. Johnny Kenny leaves for Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season. Johnny endured a torrid run of form after such a promising display in the League Cup semi-final in November. You get the feeling his chance at Celtic has passed.
My big worry of yesterday was when Nottingham Forest bid £25m for Arne Engels. That figure has been Celtic’s ceiling, so any bid of that size would have caused serious thought, but with the title race so tight, it would have been too risky to sell a first-team player.
Under a different manager, Arne regularly started on the bench early in the season. The speed with which he went from being out of the team to being subject to a Celtic-record bid is fascinating.
The old mantra, we hope to leave the transfer window stronger than we went into it, was surely met. The squad lost fringe players and, even before yesterday, added significant value in Tomas Cvancara and Juian Araujo.
With Tomas, Junior Adamu and the return of Kelechi Iheanacho, Martin O’Neill has significant options for the striker role, which should allow Daizen Maeda to setting into the wide position. We are also hopeful of seeing Callum Osmand next month.
Kieran Tierney looks to have regained full fitness, while Marcelo Saracchi is back training and will be available for selection this month. Alistair Johnston is still some way from returning, but Araujo is a productive deputy, with Colby Donovan and Anthony Ralston as backup.
Auston Trusty and Liam Scales will be the focus in central defence; it remains to be seen what action Benjamin Arthur sees, or if he figures ahead of Dane Murray.
Martin is not short of options in the middle of the park. McGregor, Bernardo, Hatate, Engels, McCowan and Nygren have been used for the middle three positions. I expect might see Joel Mvuka in a deeper role – more like McCowan’s position than Yang’s.
Will it be enough? I would mistrust anyone confident either way on that question. With the two new signings we have seen, and the return to fitness of several absentees, in addition to yesterday’s business, we can at least be hopeful. One month in the roles, Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney have played their cards. It will be a fascinating end to the season.
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Both these games would get football banned.
Beaton overturns it.
Never a penalty.
HT 0-0 Saints pressing but the ball needs a rest after 45 minutes of being blottered.
St.Mirren 0-0 HT
Disallowed goal?
For who?
Honestly, the commentary in here is SuperAllyesque at times…
😜
HH
Aye, they’re still playing at 100mph and haven’t made the extra man count.
How many of the new players can be added to the EL squad ahead of the next game?
And, can anyone explain why Benjamin Arthur has swapped being on the fringe of the Brentford first team to being on our bench? What does he gain? I am assuming he is not going to displace Trusty or Scales and we have our own youngsters behind them. I have no doubt he is a big talent with a bright future and if he was staying with us beyond May time I could understand it – but there is no option to buy him and even if there was he would be way out of our budget. so what does he stand to gain? Puzzled.
Very little football being played by either team but Saints by far the more dangerous . Hearts struggling to cope with their physicality .
Penalty?
For who…. Hearts…St Mirren…Port Vale…?
🤷♂️😜
HH
Definitely not the Vale – relegation looms large
Deniabhoy
Good question and I am not sure that any of us have an answer.
Perhaps he was swapped being 5th choice at Brentford for 3rd choice at Celtic on the assumption that he will get some game time?
I am not a fan of the loan system but can see that Celtic have got themselves into a pickle wrt immediate needs and future planning.
Saints by far the better team, should be ahead
How’s Gocic playing? He’s normally solid as a rock against us. Too agricultural for the purists but I liked big Roy and Bobo as no nonsense players and he has a bit of them about him.
DENIABHOY on 3RD FEBRUARY 2026 8:53 PM
How many of the new players can be added to the EL squad ahead of the next game?
….
I believe it was 3 , if we rule CCV out for the season , coi ok do we’ll be 4 now that Johnny Kenny is away.
HH
call me Gerry on 3rd February 2026 8:55 pm
Penalty?
For who…. Hearts…St Mirren…Port Vale…?
Zactly FROM A BOARD LOVER.
iPhone went crazy
…. Could be 4 now ….
HH
It would have been a penalty to St Mirren. Ref gave it, VAR said foul outside box. Seemed correct decision.
Beaton doesn’t know whether to stick or twist at the moment.
Who’s the Hertz fan Shortie have wheeled out?
Balance and objectivity have gone out the window.
I am sure our loan CH will feature.
Corner.
Great save.
St.Mirren great chance…still 0-0
They’ll end up getting mugged unless they score soon.
The tameness of the Hearts players compared to when they play us.
Hmmmmmmm.
If St Mirren could temper their blood and snotters approach with a wee bit of craft they ‘d be out of sight by now
That’s why they won’t win the league, Fred.
They can get right up for playing us and Hibs.
Now they have to get right up for playing the huns and everyone else
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM,
They know its allowed v Celtic.
Hail Hail.
Timmy7_noted @ 6:54 pm,
Yes, the clock end was a great place to watch football from – a neat little stadium.
Don’t know much about the environs as just went there for the games…
Celtic Mac sounds like it could be the place – I remember they had “corporate” there towards the end.
Hail Hail
EKBhoy on 3rd February 2026 9:04 pm
iPhone went crazy
…. Could be 4 now ….
HH
————
another signing?? Who?
Hearts players are unbookable. Hauling players down in midfield We are officiated on different terms.
Can see why Saints are near the foot of the table . Not an ounce of football in them. Hearts also very poor , even allowing for the ten men
Think that leaves Halkett suspended for next weeks Edinburgh derby.
HH
CLUNKS on 3RD FEBRUARY 2026 9:29 PM
EKBhoy on 3rd February 2026 9:04 pm
iPhone went crazy
…. Could be 4 now ….
HH
————
another signing?? Who?
……
Aruojo , Big Tom and the 2 forwards yesterday
St Mirren very predictable. Hearts dangerous on the break. St Mirren have just brought on a couple of ball players. Let’s see if that changes approach.
Daft comment, but if these St Mirren players had any technical ability they’d be worth a fortune.
They’re all big, strong athletes.
Suspect there’s a goal in this game , not sure who for ?
Hearts expert at hitting the deck