Celtic has goalkeeping concerns to add to midfield worries | OneFootball

Celtic clearly has a goalkeeping problem to contend with with neither Viljami Sinisalo or Sam Johnstone impressing in recent performances…

Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

While much of the attention following three consecutive defeats for Celtic has focused on the middle of the park where the lack of an Arne Engels replacement being signed in the summer is hitting hard, there is another area of the Celtic team that has clearly underperformed in these matches and that is between the sticks.

Celtic reportedly have long lasting concerns about Viljami Sinisalo’s ability to be number one goalkeeper according to report on Football insider. The outlet claim that sources have told them that the club worked hard to recruit a quality goalkeeper during the summer as they have doubts over the Finnish Internationals long term ability.

Dinko Horkas of UD Las Palmas makes a save during the warm up prior to the LaLiga match between Athletic Club and UD Las Palmas at Estadio de San Mames on April 23, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Tjark Ernst GK of Hertha BSC reacts during the Second Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Eintracht Braunschweig at Olympiastadion on October 18, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maryam Majd/Getty Images)

Despite being linked with the likes of Dinko Horkas and Tjark Ernst amongst others, Celtic struggled to conclude a deal for a new shot stopper.

New Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone photographed at The Celtic FC Training Centre, Lennoxtown. Celtic press conference, 03 September 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock IMAGO

English International Sam Johnstone was signed on loan from Wolves to add some extra quality and experience between the sticks, but despite a decent debut, the 34 year old turned in a less than assured display against the Rangers in the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter final defeat at Ibrox.

This led to Martin O’Neill reinstating 24 year old former Aston Villa shot stopper Sinisalo as a starter, but Football Insider claims that Celtic are desperate to find “continuity” in that position, and do not want to keep rotating between the two throughout the campaign.

However, there is a feeling that neither have hit the necessary level of performance so far this term, leaving Martin O’Neill in a difficult situation.

Sinisalo looks to have the edge when it comes to being the permanent number one, but like every other member of the current Celtic squad, his place is under scrutiny following a poor run of form, and in the Finns case, the previous two fixtures.

Sinisalo conceded three times against Ferencvaros in the Europa League defeat, before question marks were raised over his part in Ryan Naderi’s winner for Rangers in league action at the weekend. The initial shot could have been caught or pushed to the side rather into the path of the on running player to score.

The 24 year old’s stats in the early stages of the Scottish Premiership season make for good reading, with a save percentage of 84 per cent, and a positive goals-prevented total.

However, like several of his teammates, there are now concerns over his ability to perform in fixtures against a higher ‘quality’ of opposition. Watch back the LASK goals in Linz and there is an argument for saying that Sinisalo’s positioning at several of their goals was poor to say the least.

What’s the goalkeeper coach doing about these costly mistakes?

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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