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Ex-Celtic Midfielder Delivers Blunt Verdict on Striker Battle

Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan is taking Camilo Duran over Kasper Hogh “every day of the week.”

The pair started in Celtic’s 4-1 defeat to Benfica, with Duran off the right wing and Hogh leading the line.

When trailing 2-0, both had great chances to pull one back. A good ball in by Sebastian Tounekti found Hogh yards out, but the Dane hit the post. Duran picked up the second ball, but his curling effort rattled the crossbar.

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That came after Hogh got a shot away early on, which was comfortably saved by Anatoliy Trubin.

Dejected Celtic players after conceding a second goal to Benfica at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon
Celtic players dejected after conceding their second goal during the UEFA Europa League, league phase match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal. Picture date: Thursday October 15, 2026.

The striker was hooked at halftime, with Martin O’Neill deploying Duran through the middle, with Haissem Hassan on the right. The pair linked up in the 63rd minute, with the Egyptian finding the Colombian, who pulled a goal back to make it 3-1.

The 24-year-old, who joined up with the squad later on after the birth of his child, has all but certainly ended the debate over who should lead the current Hoops line.

Hogh is struggling, with his hat-trick against Kilmarnock ten weeks ago his only goals in green and white so far.

Scott Allan doesn’t think there’s a debate over who Celtic’s striker should be at this current moment in time.

“If I’m a creative midfield player and I’ve got Duran and Kasper Hogh to pick from I think I’m taking Camilo Duran every day of the week”, he told BBC Sport.

“At this present moment, I just feel he looks to get off the side of defenders. I think if you put the ball in an area he’s more likely to be alive to it.

“Kasper Hogh, for one reason or another, just isn’t firing on all cylinders.

“I can take that if he’s doing the other side of the game a lot better than what he is at this moment.

“You can kind of see that with why Martin O’Neill made the substitution at half-time and there’s no getting away with it: Celtic looked much better going forward.”

With Hearts next up in the Premiership, O’Neill has big decisions to make. The Gorgie side were in European action themselves, drawing 1-1 in their Conference League opener.

O'Neill Celtic
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill before the UEFA Europa League, league phase match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal. Picture date: Thursday October 15, 2026.

No one expects them to take their foot off the gas when they visit Celtic Park on Sunday.

For O’Neill, the Duran/Hogh call seems a clear one.

Then comes the midfield. Oliver Sorensen flattered to deceive as he made his second successive Europa League start; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a far more influential force when he came on, looking to get the ball up the pitch and into danger areas.

There’s plenty of food for thought after a result and performance in Lisbon that came as no real surprise.

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