Last weekend’s derby draw provided a damning indictment of where Celtic are with regard to the centre-forward department, having seen Youssef Chermiti sparkle at the other end.
The Portuguese has his flaws, undoubtedly, but it’s hard to argue with his eight Premiership goals against the Hoops and Hearts alone this term, more than Celtic’s pool of strikers have recorded combined in the entire league season.
|
Celtic strikers – 25/26 SPFL |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Games |
Goals |
|
Kenny |
15 |
4 |
|
Iheanacho |
5 |
2 |
|
Cvancara |
6 |
1 |
|
Adamu |
3 |
0 |
|
Osmand |
1 |
0 |
|
Yamada |
8 |
0 |
|
Total |
38 |
7 |
Sunday’s trip to Ibrox saw Martin O’Neill opt for Junior Adamu as the man to lead the line, after a bright showing away in Stuttgart, although the Austrian was hooked at the break, with no sign of fellow loanee Tomas Cvancara at all on the day.
It was the Czech striker’s turn in midweek, although like against Rangers, the match ended with Daizen Maeda up top, while Kelechi Iheanacho mysteriously remains absent despite returning from injury in the Europa League last week.
There’s no clearfrontrunner right now, with O’Neill left with a real headache heading into this Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox.
Why Cvancara could now start against Rangers
The Parkhead hierarchy may well have thought they’d solved matters in January, after adding both Adamu and Cvancara to O’Neill’s ranks, although it appears they might have gone for quantity over quality on current evidence.
In the case of Cvancara, the 25-year-old has still scored just once since his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach, that coming in the routine win over Falkirk.
The 6 foot 3 striker’s glancing header that day provided an indication of what he can offer as a towering focal point up top, having also registered key assists against both Hearts and Kilmarnock in the top-flight so far.
There is an almost clumsy, cumbersome quality to his game, yet Cvancara does make a nuisance of himself, likely to provide something different to think about for both John Souttar and Emmanuel Fernandez on Sunday.
Indeed, as last weekend’s meeting showcased, the Gers aren’t exactly adept at defending crosses into the box, with Kieran Tierney heading home Celtic’s first of the day, while Maeda’s own header drew the handball from Dujon Sterling.
Perhaps the Japanese speedster will take on the role again, yet as he showcased with his wayward second-half effort against Aberdeen, he looks a shadow of the player who hit 33 goals last term, scoring just once since O’Neill returned in January.
Cvancara then – who has only missed three ‘big chances’ to date – could be afforded his first taste of the derby, although he simply needs some service.
Celtic’s “best winger” could bring the best out of Cvancara
It is perhaps telling that Cvancara’s best moments so far have come with him teeing up others in attack, with Celtic’s centre-forwards perhaps having the excuse of not being supplied with a stream of opportunities this season.
Celtic can bench Cvancara & Adamu by unleashing £14m star in different role
Celtic’s current centre-forward options still aren’t delivering under Martin O’Neill.
Sebastian Tounekti, for instance, is far more adept at cutting inside to create openings for himself, while on the other flank, Yang Hyun-jun hasn’t provided a single assist in the league in 2025/26, creating only two ‘big chances’.
If Celtic are to get the best out of their strikers, namely Cvancara, it might take the introduction of James Forrest, the veteran hero previously hailed as the club’s “best winger” on his day by former boss, Brendan Rodgers.
As recent cameos have showcased, that statement very much still rings true, with the 34-year-old enjoying a fine week it must be said, starting at Ibrox.
Introduced late on, the Scotsman notably picked out Maeda in the penalty area with a delightful dinked cross, the type of chance that would have Cvancara and co licking their lips.
That was followed by Forrest’s latest assist in Celtic colours against the Dons, finding space for himself in that right channel, before producing a perfectly timed pull-back to put it on a plate for Benjamin Nygren.
A man with 111 goals and 111 assists to his name across a stellar spell at Parkhead, the diminutive winger appears to be coming to the fore again at a pivotal stage in the campaign, with Celtic’s senior core unsurprisingly putting their head above the rest of late, be it Forrest, Tierney or Callum McGregor.
Streams of signings are made year in, year out, although it is the old reliables who routinely do the business, with Forrest showcasing over the past few days that he isn’t merely there to make up the numbers, he can still make a telling impact.
Indeed, having that traditional, old-school winger on the right flank should allow Celtic to get Cvancara going again, with Forrest notably bettering Yang with four ‘big chances’ created in 2025/26, despite only starting two league games.
As the old saying goes, form is temporary, but class is permanent, and the long-serving stalwart has the latter in abundance.
Celtic could end Yang & Maeda’s Parkhead careers by signing SPFL star
Celtic could end Hyun-jun Yang and Daizen Maeda’s Parkhead careers by signing this reported transfer target.