Shaun Maloney looks ahead to a busy week for Celtic | OneFootball

Shaun Maloney was on press duties today ahead of Wednesday’s match at home to Aberdeen (KO: 7.45pm), and with the transfer window set to close later this week, much of the questions related to possible comings and goings at Celtic.

The club has already brought in four players over the past couple of months – Camilo Duran, Kasper Høgh, Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan – with further players set to arrive in the next couple of days, while there might also be movement in the opposite direction.

The Celtic assistant manager would not put a number on the number of potential arrivals this week but did anticipate a busy couple of days for the Hoops.

“There are some key positions that we still need a little bit of work on in the next couple of days,” he said, “and hopefully by the time the European window and obviously our own window shuts that we get to add that to the squad.

“We've got some really good players, but I think there are just specific things we need in certain games.

“We've started the season pretty well domestically. We had a really big disappointment in Europe and it’s about how we can come back from that.

“What I would say is that off the back of that last game, coming off the bus, we actually got a brilliant reception from our fans before the Falkirk game, which I wouldn't underestimate because I wasn't quite sure how that was going to be.

“It was a really difficult night (in Austria), so to get that reception of the fans from the bus and within the stadium was really positive.

“What we now have to do is give them the performances with and without the ball. We need the same level without the ball and if we do, we've got a decent team.”

Celtic face seven games in the space of 22 days across three different competitions, and the second of those fixtures comes tomorrow night (Wednesday) when Aberdeen are the visitors to Glasgow.

Martin O’Neill’s side have enjoyed a 100 per cent win rate to their domestic campaign, and the aim is to continue that with another win on Wednesday.

However, Shaun Maloney confirmed that Kasper Høgh and Kieran Tierney look set to miss the midweek clash with Aberdeen, although he is hopeful they will both return for the weekend trip to St Mirren.

Callum Osmand, who suffered an ankle injury towards the end of last Saturday’s win over Falkirk, could be out for a few weeks.

Aberdeen have lost two of their three league fixtures so far this season, but will travel to Glasgow intent on trying to put more points on the board.

“There are still plenty of good players up there, and they’re really strong side, attacking-wise,” Shaun Maloney said.

“Watching them, they're definitely different to Stephen’s St Mirren side.

“We'll prepare for them being a back four and a back five although they've predominantly been the four this season. So, they’re a big threat in the final third. I know Kevin Nisbet is in brilliant form so I think it'll be a really tough game.

“We've looked really good attacking but I think we can, as a team and as a group, definitely tighten up without the ball.

“We have to be more aggressive. At times we look really good attacking, but we want more without the ball, and if we do get that, then I think we're a decent side.”

More on the game:

Fixtures

Celtic Vs. Aberdeen - Wed, Sep 2nd 2026, 19:45