MARTIN O’NEILL singled out Marcelo Saracchi for praise in the midst of Celtic’s title party after the 3-1 triumph over Hearts at Parkhead.
The on-loan Uruguayan international left-back came on for Kieran Tierney at the same time Calum Osmand replaced Auston Trusty in an inspired double substitution by the Hoops interim manager.
The 28-year-old defender, whose temporary switch from Boca Juniors expires next month, and the young Welshman combined to set up Daizen Maeda for the crucial second goal against the Edinburgh club in the 87th minute.
THE SPECIAL ONE…Martin O’Neill hails Marcelo Saracchi.
Saracchi surged inside before doubling back onto the left before releasing a perfect through pass into the path of Osmand.
The former Fulham kid whipped in a low cross and the Japanese ace provided the finishing touch.
An erroneous offside flag from touchline assistant David Roome temporarily stalled celebrations before VAR gave the strike the green light.
Osmand rolled in the third goal in the eighth minute of stoppage-time and the rest is history.
In the midst of the dressing room celebrations, Celtic TV caught the moment O’Neill called over Saracchi, put an arm around his shoulder and said: “Special character.”
The two-word salute was hailed by the entire playing staff.
Saracchi has been an extremely dependable stand-in for Tierney and made eight starts in his 19 league appearances. Overall, he had 26 outings for the champions.
He missed the entire Wilfried Nancy 33-day fiasco as he sat out 12 consecutive games with a hamstring injury.
And, underlining his immaculate sense of timing, Saracchi scored just one goal – and it was a vitally important one in the 2-1 home win over Livingston on the February 11 evening when debutant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the stoppage-time winner.
The Celtic fans are urging the club to make the player’s move permanent.
Saracchi would certainly be a popular signing as the squad gets poised to undergo a massive revamp in the summer.
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