There are moments in a season when everything feels slightly off, even if you cannot quite put your finger on why. For Celtic, this campaign has been full of those small imbalances. A pass just behind its target. A run that comes a second too late. A defensive line that never quite settles.
And sometimes, it is not about the system or the tactics. It comes down to one missing piece.
On the right side of defence, that missing piece has been felt more than most.
For weeks now, Celtic have had to reshuffle, rethink, and readjust. The natural rhythm down that flank has disappeared. The overlap runs are not as sharp. The recovery runs do not carry the same assurance. It is subtle, but in a title race where margins are everything, subtle becomes significant.
In his absence, others have stepped in. Colby Donovan has been asked to fill the void, and while there have been moments of promise, there have also been reminders of just how demanding that role can be. At Celtic, a full back is not just a defender. He is an outlet, a creator, and often the starting point of attacks.
That balance has been difficult to replicate.
It has left fans asking the same quiet question week after week. When will things feel normal again?
The answer, for now, remains just out of reach.
Because the player who brings that balance, Julian Araujo, is still not ready to return.
And it is only midway through this uncertainty that clarity has finally arrived.
Speaking recently, Martin O’Neill offered an update that was both reassuring and frustrating in equal measure.
He said: “The problems before the break are probably still there. Julian is still recuperating down at Bournemouth.
“I do yeah (think he will return this season). He’s doing fine and recovering.
“The physios are obviously keeping in touch with Bournemouth but we expect to see him back in the not-so-distant future.”
There is hope in those words. But there is also distance.
Because “not-so-distant” in football can feel like an eternity when every game carries weight.
What makes this situation even more delicate is that Araujo’s recovery is not entirely in Celtic’s hands. With the defender still under the care of his parent club, the process becomes slower, more cautious, and far less predictable.
And so Celtic wait.
They wait while trying to keep their season on track. They wait while adjusting week to week, game to game. They wait while knowing that one player could quietly restore a sense of balance that has been missing for far too long.
There is still belief that he will return before the final stretch. That moment, when he finally steps back onto the pitch, could feel like more than just a comeback. It could feel like a reset.
Until then, though, Celtic are left navigating that right side with makeshift solutions, hoping it holds firm long enough for the missing piece to fall back into place.
Leave a Reply