Celtic produced a dramatic turnaround in the Scottish Premiership title race on Sunday, coming from 2-0 down to defeat Kilmarnock 3-2 away from home.
Martin O’Neill’s side trailed at the interval after goals from Joe Hugill and Tyreece John-Jules, prompting a triple substitution at the break.
The changes proved decisive. Sebastian Tounekti injected urgency and quality into the attack, firing home a superb strike to spark the revival. His impact paved the way for Benjamin Nygren to level and Julian Araujoto complete the comeback.
Tounekti has now influenced two of the last three matches from the bench, having also contributed a goal and an assist in the SFA Cup win over Dundee.
While the fighting spirit was admirable, there were still concerns — not least the display of Kasper Schmeichel.
Why Celtic may need a new goalkeeper
Celtic could be in the market for a new number one this summer. Schmeichel had little chance with John-Jules’ opener, but Hugill’s second appeared to loop over him too easily. The veteran Dane has conceded significantly more than expected based on xG metrics this season — 1.59 goals above expected in the league and 3.16 more in the Europa League — pointing to a worrying trend in his shot-stopping.
Although he made five saves on Sunday and was not the poorest performer overall, the broader picture suggests he has underperformed. With his contract nearing its end, Celtic may look to refresh the position in the summer to strengthen between the posts.
The player who endured an even tougher afternoon
However, the performance of Reo Hatate arguably raised greater concerns. Substituted at half-time as part of O’Neill’s triple change, the midfielder struggled to influence the game. He failed to register a shot on target or create a clear-cut chance and looked off the pace throughout.
Hatate’s drop-off this season has been stark. After scoring 10 league goals and adding four assists in 2024/25, he has managed just one goal and two assists in 22 league outings this term, with his last strike coming against Aberdeen in August. His defensive numbers remain similar — winning just under half of his duels — but without the attacking output to compensate.
Given that decline, there is an argument Celtic might have considered cashing in during January had serious interest materialised. The Japanese international looks a shadow of the dynamic midfielder who regularly decided matches last season.
For now, with the transfer window closed, the focus shifts to whether Hatate can rediscover his form. Celtic’s title push may depend not only on their resilience — as shown at Rugby Park — but also on key players regaining their best levels in the decisive weeks ahead.
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