Celtic supporters have been left debating a major decision by manager Martin O’Neill after the Scottish champions confirmed their 25-man squad for the Europa League, with three of the club’s newest arrivals surprisingly left out of the competition.
The decision has immediately become one of the biggest talking points around Parkhead, particularly because Celtic completed a remarkable late burst of transfer activity just before the UEFA registration deadline.
While seven new arrivals have been included in O’Neill’s European squad, three recent additions will have to wait for their opportunities in domestic football.
The decision has understandably generated plenty of discussion among supporters, with some questioning why Celtic moved so quickly to bring in players who were then unable to make the European squad.
However, the situation is more complicated than simply leaving three new signings out.
O’NEILL FACED A DIFFICULT SQUAD DECISION
UEFA squad regulations meant O’Neill had difficult choices to make when putting together his European group.
Celtic had more players available than could be accommodated, particularly among those who were not eligible for the club’s homegrown quota. Reports indicate that O’Neill could select only 17 of his 20 non-homegrown first-team players, meaning three players inevitably had to miss out.
O’Neill himself acknowledged that the decision was difficult.
“There are obviously some very tough decisions to be made in putting this squad together for the Europa League,” the Celtic boss said.
But the manager also made clear that Celtic’s domestic campaign remains extremely important.
O’Neill explained that although Celtic were disappointed by their Champions League elimination, the club still wants to perform strongly in the Europa League. At the same time, he wants the new arrivals to make their impact primarily in domestic football at this stage.
That explanation provides a major clue as to why three of Celtic’s newest players have been left out.
THE THREE NEW SIGNINGS LEFT OUT
The players omitted are Joel van den Berg, Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo. All three joined Celtic during the final stages of the transfer window, but none will feature during the eight-match Europa League league phase.
JOEL VAN DEN BERG
The first omission is Joel van den Berg, the 19-year-old midfielder who arrived from PSV Eindhoven on a permanent four-year contract.
Van den Berg was one of Celtic’s final additions before the European registration deadline, but his lack of senior experience appears to have worked against him when O’Neill had to make his final selections.
The youngster has made only a limited number of senior appearances, making it difficult for him to displace more established midfield options.
His omission means Van den Berg will have to focus on Scottish Premiership football for the time being and attempt to force his way into O’Neill’s plans through his domestic performances.
SHIM MHEUKA
The second player left out is Chelsea loanee Shim Mheuka.
The teenage forward had barely arrived in Glasgow before making his Celtic debut, coming off the bench during the club’s impressive 3–0 victory over Aberdeen.
His appearance gave supporters their first opportunity to see what he could offer, and reports indicate that his performance generated plenty of excitement among the Celtic support.
Yet despite making an immediate impression, Mheuka did not make the Europa League squad.
That does not necessarily mean O’Neill does not rate him. Instead, the manager appears to view the young striker as an important option for the domestic campaign, particularly with Celtic needing depth across a long season.
LANDON EMENALO
Perhaps the most surprising omission is Landon Emenalo, another Chelsea youngster who joined Celtic on loan.
Unlike Mheuka, Emenalo has not yet been able to make his Celtic debut because he arrived carrying an injury and is still working towards full fitness.
Reports suggest he is still several weeks away from being ready for competitive action.
That makes his omission from the Europa League squad considerably easier to understand.
Rather than rushing him into European competition before he is ready, Celtic can allow him to recover properly and then introduce him into the domestic schedule.
O’Neill has indicated that Emenalo could still have an important role to play during the hectic domestic campaign.
WHY ARE CELTIC FANS DEBATING THE DECISION?
The biggest source of frustration for some supporters is not necessarily that the three players were excluded.
Instead, it is the fact that Celtic completed several deals so late in the window that there was barely any opportunity to properly assess the newcomers before UEFA’s registration deadline.
Some fans see the omissions as a logical consequence of UEFA’s squad rules and the players’ limited experience.
Others believe Celtic should have prioritised European competition and found a way to accommodate the newcomers.
O’NEILL’S MESSAGE IS CLEAR
The manager’s comments suggest that Celtic are taking a longer-term approach with the three youngsters.
O’Neill stressed that the club wants its new signings to make their mark domestically first, while also leaving the door open for changes to the squad later in the season if Celtic remain involved in Europe.
That is significant.
The three players have not been banned from playing for Celtic. They have simply been excluded from the Europa League squad for the league phase.
Their next opportunity will therefore come in domestic competition, where they can compete for places and demonstrate to O’Neill that they deserve greater involvement.
For Van den Berg, that means proving himself in midfield.
For Mheuka, it means taking advantage of opportunities in attack.
And for Emenalo, the immediate priority is getting fully fit before trying to establish himself at left-back.
CELTIC’S EUROPEAN SQUAD STILL HAS PLENTY OF NEW FACES
Despite the three omissions, O’Neill has still included seven of Celtic’s summer arrivals.
Camilo Duran, Mika Baur, Haissem Hassan and Kasper Høgh are joined by the more recent additions Oliver Sørensen, Jordan Lotomba and Sam Johnstone.
That means Celtic will still have plenty of fresh faces available when their Europa League campaign begins.
The club’s European schedule includes home matches against Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo, Besiktas and Marseille, as well as away trips to Benfica, Union SG, Omonia and Torreense.
It promises to be a demanding campaign, making squad depth particularly important.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR CELTIC SUPPORTERS
Ultimately, the decision may only be judged properly several months from now.
If Mheuka, Emenalo and Van den Berg become important players in Celtic’s domestic campaign, O’Neill’s decision could eventually look like a smart piece of squad management.
If Celtic struggle for depth in Europe or suffer injuries in the positions occupied by the excluded players, supporters may look back at the decision differently.
For now, however, O’Neill has made his choice.
And with the manager openly describing the selection process as involving “very tough decisions,” the debate around Mheuka, Emenalo and Van den Berg is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
For Celtic fans, the real test now begins on the pitch.
