Celtic manager Martin O’Neill acknowledged the ongoing fitness challenges within his squad following their 2-1 victory over Falkirk on Saturday. The team faced several absences due to injury and illness, with Callum McGregor sidelined by illness, Kasper Høgh, Alistair Johnston, and Reo Hatate out injured, and long-term absentee Jota remaining unavailable. Additionally, concerns emerged post-match regarding the condition of Kieran Tierney and Callum Osmand.

Fitness issues have drawn attention after Celtic’s recent performance, particularly their late collapse in a Europa Conference League match against LASK in Austria, where players including Tierney, Colby Donovan, and Cameron Carter-Vickers had to leave the pitch due to cramp.

O’Neill explained the difficulties stem from the disrupted pre-season preparations. “When we went to Portugal in pre-season, a lot of the senior players weren’t there for one reason or another,” he said. “We had Callum, Carter-Vickers, maybe four, and essentially it was the youth lads like young Liam Kennedy and people like that. And while they got a great benefit out of the pre-season, it wasn’t beneficial for those boys who were coming back from World Cup duty.” He added that the squad needs time to regain “true fitness, proper fitness” and urged patience as they work through the recovery period.

Despite the fitness issues, Celtic secured the win thanks to a brace from Camilo Duran. However, Falkirk managed to pull one goal back in the 72nd minute through an own goal by Colby Donovan, which kept the match competitive in the second half.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn noted the positive experience for his players, many of whom were making their first appearances at Celtic Park. “There’s a lot of players playing at Celtic Park for the first time and savouring that kind of atmosphere, and that’s only going to do them the world of good,” he said, highlighting the developmental value of the match despite the defeat.