MARTIN O’NEILL has a conundrum to solve before Celtic’s Europa League opener against Ferencvaros at Parkhead this evening.
The Hoops boss has a straight choice between glove rivals Viljami Sinisalo and Sam Johnstone to see who faces the Hungarians.
The Finnish star has been the team’s regular No.1 since Kasper Schmeichel dropped out of contention in February and the subsequent announcement of his injury-enforced retirement at the age of 39.
Sinisalo conceded only three goals in six successive domestic wins, but the roof fell in on the 24-year-old netminder when the team collapsed to a 5-1 defeat to LASK in Austria to bring their Champions League participation to an abrupt and painful conclusion.
IN WITH A SHOUT…Viljami Sinisalo is ready for the fight to be Celtic No.1.
Johnstone, who arrived on a season-long loan from Wolves, made his debut last midweek and looked sound in the 1-0 league victory over t Johnstone in Perth.
However, the four times-capped England international looked shaky and vulnerable in the 3-0 nosedive at Ibrox on Sunday.
O’Neill faced criticism for fielding the 33-year-old shotstopper in such a crucial encounter with Johnstone short of match practice with his last first-team outing for the Midlands club ELEVEN months ago.
The veteran Hoops team chief believes the brutal Glasgow derby exposure will ultimately benefit Johnstone.
O’Neill said: “I wanted him to experience that match at Ibrox. This lad has played a lot of football, he was fourth choice for England not so long ago.
“But sometimes you haven’t experienced this and you have to go through that.”
The Irishman also praised the attitude of Sinisalo while he weighed up his options in his search for his number one No.1.
BIG NOISE…Sam Johnstone roars encouragement to his team-mates during his debut in the 1-0 win over St Johnstone in Perth last midweek.
O’Neill, speaking to the Glasgow Times, continued: “He has done exceptionally well for us.
“But I think I need competition for places; I need to know what somebody can do. Now I’ve got goalkeepers wanting to fight for the position.
“At some stage or another, one will probably take over.”
As Sinisalo and Johnstone go head to head for the position, O’Neill added: “That’s the problem with goalkeeping, as loads of managers have found out.
“When you have two, and one doesn’t play, then it becomes problematic in many aspects. But we haven’t reached that stage. In training, Vil wants to be it. He wants to be the man.
“His training has been really good.”
Now the Celtic fans await to see who gets the nod to run out behind skipper Callum McGregor as the Hoops kick off their Europa League campaign under the lights in the east end of Glasgow tonight.
ALEX’S ANGLE: PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM?
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