Martin O'Neill unsure of Celtic's form despite St Johnstone victory

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has expressed uncertainty regarding his squad's current level despite securing a 1-0 victory away at St Johnstone. The win marked six consecutive league victories for the reigning champions, but the performance left the veteran manager questioning his team's readiness.

O'Neill made five changes to his side, including debuts and rare starts for several players. While Mika Baur’s goal secured the points, the manager admitted to feeling unsatisfied with the overall display. "I'm not sure what to make of it, really," O'Neill stated, adding that the team remains "well short" of where they need to be.

A significant talking point was the decision to bench Camilo Duran. O'Neill revealed that he wanted to see if the team could operate without the influential Colombian, but concluded that the answer is likely no. "He's just been class... I wanted to try and see if we could do without him, and the answer is probably not," O'Neill explained.

Critique also fell on the team's wing play, with Sebastian Tounekti’s performance described as overly "safe" by pundits. In contrast, veteran James Forrest’s impactful cameo led to calls for him to start in the upcoming high-stakes clash against Rangers.

The squad faces a demanding schedule ahead, with a double-header against Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup and the league, followed by a Europa League home opener against Ferencvaros next Thursday.