Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Celtic full-back Marcelo Saracchi picked up a hamstring injury in last night’s 1-0 victory over Dundee and the defender is now expected to be out of action for several weeks…
3rd December 2025 Celtic Park, Scottish Premiership Football, Celtic versus Dundee Marcelo Saracchi of Celtic goes off injured. Photo IMAGO David Young
The Uruguayan defender – who has been in impressive form since arriving on loan from Boca Juniors in August – was forced to leave the pitch shortly before half-time in what was the O’Neill’s last match as Celtic’s interim manager.
The Irishman – whose side, with a game in hand over Hearts, claimed a 1-0 victory over Dundee to join the Jambos at the summit of the Premiership table – explained after the match that the defender now faces a spell on the sidelines.
Celtic’s mounting injury list
Celtic now face a shortage of options at left-back, with several key players – Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Jota and Kelechi Iheanacho – already unavailable, while Kieran Tierney is still progressing through his recovery from a toe injury and had to endure the extremely painful experience of having a toe nail removed during the week.
Kieran Tierney on the ball. Celtic v Dundee, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 03 December 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
The Scotland defender had to rely on pain-relief injections in order to play in Sunday’s encounter against Hibernian at Easter Road.
With massive games coming up against Hearts on Sunday, followed by Roma in the Europa League and then St Mirren in the Premier Sports League Cup final, it will be a tall order for injury prone Tierney to be relied upon in all of those matches.
“He’s going to be out for a while’
When asked post-match about the scale of Saracchi’s injury, O’Neill said via The National: “He’s pulled his hamstring again. So he’s going to be out for a while. I like him, I really do like him. He’s a great character.
“He doesn’t speak English. He has very little English. I said, ‘You’ve got to learn English!’ He said, ‘Yes’. Then I say to him, ‘ What else are you doing?’ He said, ‘Yes’. The answer is yes to everything. He’s got no idea what I’m talking about.”
Martin O Neill, manager of Celtic in the dug out Celtic v Dundee, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 03 December 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
‘Recruitment at any football club is essential’
When questioned about the group of players that incoming manager Wilfried Nancy will take over, the 73 year-old responded: “It will be up to him to make his mind up about the players. He has, essentially, most of this month.
“But I think that recruitment at any football club is essential. It’s a big job bringing in players. But I think they will want to supplement his squad in Jauuary. Remember, we’ve had injuries too. Johnston and Carter Vickers will be out for quite some time.”
Conor Spence
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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star
