VILJAMI SINISALO will make his twelfth successive appearance for Celtic when he lines up against Rangers at Parkhead in Sunday’s High Noon shoot-out.
The Finnish international was catapulted into the first team after Kasper Schmeichel’s season ended in the 2-1 home loss to Hibs on February 22.
In the aftermath of Martin O’Neill only league reverse in the east end of Glasgow this time around, it was revealed the legendary Danish keeper was heading for surgery for his persistent shoulder problem which is threatening his career.
At 39, it’s difficult to see Schmeichel being offered an extension to his contract at the champions which is due to end next month.
FLYING FINN…Viljami Sinisalo dives to deny Vfb Stuttgart in Celtic’s 1-0 Europa League win in Germany in February. Auston Trusty gets a close-up view.
The Hoops have put their faith in Sinisalo, a £1million arrival from Aston Villa in July 2024, and so far the 24-year-old shotstopper has responded to the challenge and performed well in eight wins, one defeat and a Scottish Cup quarter-final penalty-kick shoot-out victory at Ibrox following a goalless draw.
There was also a 2-2 Premiership stalemate against Danny Rohl’s club in Govan while the youngster has conceded 11 goals in that sequence.
Former Celtic netminder Alan Rough, who had a brief spell at Parkhead in 1988, has been impressed by Sinisalo and said: “Obviously, there will be a lot of changes at Celtic in the summer and I think one of them will be a goalkeeper.
“However, I don’t think they need to go out and get a recognised number one. Every Celtic supporter knows they need a lot of quality.
“But, as far as a goalkeeper is concerned, I don’t think it’s a priority. Sinisalo has been impressive, although he still has a wee bit to go.
WE’RE BEHIND YOU…Viljami Sinisalo with the backing of the Celtic fans.
“I don’t think a lot of people appreciate the level that you’ve got to be at to be a goalkeeper at Celtic. You’ve got to perform.
“There are a lot of games you go into where you’re not called upon to do anything and then you might be called upon to make a save or two saves. He seems to have the ability to do that.”
Former Scotland World Cup keeper Rough, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “He’s still got a wee couple of flaws here and there, like the one at the weekend where he comes out and punches when he doesn’t really need to.
“You need somebody to get a wee break for somebody to clear it for you, but it never happened.
“I think he’s done reasonably well coming in for Kasper Schmeichel.
“He’s still relatively young and obviously the more games he gets, the better he’ll get.”
Seventy-four-year-old Rough added: “Could he be Celtic’s goalkeeper for the next five years? He could be, yes. It’s all up to him.
“I was only there for a year, but I only played about six or seven times.
“The pressure of putting that jersey on and going out there and performing, because the demands are there.”
It’s a case of so far, so good for Sinisalo.
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