When Sebastian Tounekti's name appeared on the Celtic teamsheet for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, the collective groan from supporters could have drowned out the 50,000 strong Ibrox crowd. With Yang Hyun-jun away on international duty, Tounekti made just his second start of the season in Wednesday's 1-0 win over St Johnstone, with former Hoops goalkeeper Pat Bonner describing his first-half performance in Perth as "awful". The Tunisia winger lost possession 23 times against Simo Valakari's side - only opposition keeper Toby Steward coughed up possession more.
Tounekti toiled again at Ibrox up against Rangers right-back Dujon Sterling, so much so that he was hooked at half-time and replaced by Egypt international Haissem Hassan, who joined Celtic from Real Oviedo this summer in a deal reportedly worth up to £9m. The substitution made little difference as Celtic slumped to a 3-0 defeat, having been one down at the break. "That was a question, should Tounekti start or not?" Bonner said.
"O'Neill went with him but I think I think he now realises that maybe he's not the player that's going to be dominant in this team. "Sterling absolutely dominated him, and Sterling was playing almost like a third centre-half. "Out of all of the wingers we've seen, I think Hassan should have started.
He's maybe not 100 per cent match fit but you pay big money for these guys they have to perform." 'McInnes delivers togetherness & intensity in Old Firm gobsmacker' Rangers overwhelm meek Celtic to clinch semi-final spot Rangers v Aberdeen & Edinburgh derby in League Cup semis Tounekti's spot in Celtic's front three was not the only attacking quandary for O'Neill going into the game. Camilo Duran had excelled through the middle while Kasper Hogh - another big-money summer signing - was out injured. But with Hogh fit again, the Dane started at McDiarmid Park and led the line again at Ibrox, with Duran moved out wide.
Both struggled to make an impact and former Rangers man Andy Halliday was scathing in his assessment of Hogh's performance. "Kasper Hogh has blown hot and cold for Celtic so far, but he was absolutely freezing today," Halliday said on Premier Sports. "On the ball, off the ball - no desire, no willingness to get back and defend for his team." After Hogh was brought off on 64 minutes, Duran was deployed through the middle, only to be substituted himself 13 minutes later for Shim Mheuka.
O'Neill also opted to break up the centre-back pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty that had started seven of Celtic's nine games this season. Kieran Tierney returned at left-back and Liam Scales shifted inside to partner Carter-Vickers. On-loan Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johstone, who also started at St Johnstone, was perhaps a surprise inclusion given Viljami Sinisalo has kept four clean sheets in his eight appearances this season.
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