Match Pictures | Matches: 2026 – 2027
Trivia
- KO: 13:30 Sunday, Sky Sports TV, League Match 2
- First away match of the season. 1.30pm kick off as EPL not yet started.
- Celtic on top 6pts +5GD with St Mirren also on 6pts +3GD; Hearts 4th 3pt, and Sevco 9th with 1pts -1GD
- Hearts 4-0 Dundee Utd, TheRangers 1-2 Hibernian! Motherwell 0-0 Falkirk
- Incredibly Celtic never put 5 past anyone last season (in 90mins).
- Former Celtic Chief Exec Fergus McCann was at the game today.
- Martin O’Neill underwent a small procedure in hospital: “In response to speculation, we can confirm that Martin O’Neill has undergone a small procedure in hospital. We would envisage Martin being released from hospital in the next day or two and on behalf of Martin, we would like to thank supporters for their kind wishes.”
- Acting manager Shaun Maloney confirmed that Martin O’Neill out of hospital and in “good form”
- Rugby Park pitch finally converted to a grass pitch after years of the controversial artificial pitch.
- Paulo Bernardo moved on loan to Polish side Gornik Zabrze with option to buy.
- Winter Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead reversed her retirement, after four years away.
- FIFA: European teams could still boycott competitions including the World Cup as Uefa says Fifa’s defence of its president Gianni Infantino “changes nothing”.
- Ex-Celt Araujo had surgery this week and is out for indefinite period. So he’s no coming back to Celtic sadly.
- Jota back in training but not full contact, so still bit to go.
- Celtic’s hopes of re-signing Julian Araujo dealt a huge blow by the news that he has undergone thigh surgery at Bournemouth
- Reports:
- Brentford may sanction another loan move to Celtic for Ben Arthur
- Dane Murray is among Dundee’s list of targets but Celtic are not interested in loaning out
- Haissem Hassan has reportedly turned down a 5 yr Saudi contract worth £~10m as speculation around a move to Celtic continues. Oviedo are reportedly likely to accept Celtic’s £9m offer for Hassan, with only some details to be finalised. Another report had claimed that he had agreed something with Marseille!
- Acc to reports, Alistair Johnston has told Celtic he would like to move to Everton, and Arne Engels has told the club he is keen on move to West Ham.
- Monaco’s push for Farès Ghedjemis leaves that deal looking unlikely.
- Bolton Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher is in the dark over whether his club can sign Johnny Kenny from Celtic this summer.
- Report claims interest in Heart of Midlothian forward Claudio Braga.
- Report in the Athletic magazine claims of 72 Scottish football teenagers to have moved south of the border, 47 didn’t make a single senior appearance for their English club!
Transfer window open:
- Kasper Høgh (F) from Bodø/Glimt – £11.0M (€12.9M)
- Camilo Durán from Qarabağ – £2.1M (€2.5M)
Transfers out:
- Daizen Maeda (F) to Ipswich Town – £9.9M (€11.7M)
- Luis Palma (F/LW) to Lech Poznań – £3.5M (€4.1M)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (F) to Bursaspor – Free
- Stephen Welsh (D) to Swansea – Undisclosed
- Josh Clarke (GK) to Partick Thistle – Undisclosed
- Andrew Kyle (D) to East Kilbride FC – Free
- Ben McPherson (D) to Partick Thistle – Free
- Ben Summers to Ayr United – Free
- Aidan Rice (GK) to Dumbarton – Loan
- Hayato Inamura (D) to Tokyo – Undisclosed
- Maik Nawrocki (D) to Lens – Undisclosed
- Kasper Schmeichel – Retired
- Filip Skorb (F) to Lecce – Undisclosed
- Paolo Bernardo loan to Gornik Zabrze
Summary
Hogh has arrived! 
“He was at the team hotel, he spoke to the players just after the meeting, he’s in good form,” Maloney explained. “He just needs a couple of extra days, I think. We’re all hopeful for that. “I guess he’ll take it day to day, but he’s definitely in good spirits. We’ll see how he is in a week.”
“Kasper [Hogh] had a brilliant game. He probably had as many chances as he did against Dundee but that’s the life of a striker, you have to be there to take them. “His all-round game was very good. He gave us a platform to play. Kilmarnock tried to press us really aggressively, man for man and everything that went up to him he held so we were able to run off of him. “I was really happy with the team. I loved the creativity because we created a lot but the biggest thing was the mentality. We were at 100%, full throttle and never really came off that. We created big chances at the end and defended when they had to.”
Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney
“I’ll take responsibility for that. “I know we made some mistakes on the pitch but I went quite, quite aggressive and quite open. We’ve made some errors within that and we were punished by a really good Celtic side. When their tails are up you can see how well they move it around. “I take responsibility and we’ll work on it this week. We’ve got a massive game on Friday in the cup against Ayr United and we’ll look to put things right.”
Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann
fatboab of KDS:
Terrific performance for an hour from mid to front, one or two wobbles at the ba ck early on, but overall. A great at tacking show from some quality players.
Hogh, Duran, Engels and Nyywere superb, Tierney solid as feck, CCV more like himself.
We need more quality in , but this was very encouraging. Hogh could hit 40 this season with good service.
Nice pitch at last, and a humiliating afternoon for Rule Book McCann. What’s not to like?
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Sean Maloney (interim)
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
Starting lineup
01, V. Sinisalo
63, K. Tierney
06, A. Trusty
20, C. Carter-Vickers
02, A. Johnston, subbed for C. Donovan at 46 mins
27, A. Engels
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for L. McCowan at 74 mins
08, B. Nygren, subbed for J. Forrest at 74 mins
11, C. Durán, subbed for S. Tounekti at 64 mins
09, K. Høgh, subbed for C. Osmand at 82 mins
Subs:
51, C. Donovan
31, R. Doohan
49, J. Forrest
41, R. Hatate
14, L. McCowan
47, D. Murray
19, C. Osmand
21, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
17, S. Tounekti
Goals:
K. Høgh (2′, 33′, 35′)
B. Nygren (47′)
L. McCowan (75′)
Assists:
A. Engels (2′), B. Nygren (33′), C. Durán (35′)
Kilmarnock
Manager: Neil McCann
Formation: 4 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2
Starting lineup
01, M. Stryjek
21, M. Schjønning-Larsen, subbed for M. O’Hara at 74 mins
15, J. Yfeko
14, G. Stanger
02, J. Brandon
36, A. Tshibola
18, T. Lowery
08, E. Ring
11, G. Kiltie (c), Captain
09, J. Hugill,26′, Yellow Card at 26 mins
10, T. John-Jules, subbed for B. Rice at 75 mins
Subs:
39, E. Bowie
20, N. Cleșcenco
12, C. Ferrie
07, R. McKenzie
05, M. O’Hara
27, I. Owen
49, B. Rice
25, E. Brown
22, J. Thomson
Goals:
M. Schjønning-Larsen (56′)
Assists:
T. Lowery (56′)
Referee: Ryan Lee
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee 1: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane
Fourth Official: Greg Soutar
Assistant VAR Official: David Dickinson
Venue:The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park
Attendance:8,353
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Kilmarnock 36.1%
Celtic 63.9%
Shots
Kilmarnock 10
Celtic 33
Shots on target
Kilmarnock 6
Celtic 16
Total touches inside the opposition box
Kilmarnock 23
Celtic 48
KIL
CEL
Goalkeeper saves
Kilmarnock 11
Celtic 4
Aerial duels won
Kilmarnock 13
Celtic 11
Fouls committed
Kilmarnock 12
Celtic 10
Corners
Kilmarnock 5
Celtic 7
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Kilmarnock 10
Celtic 33
Shots on target
Kilmarnock 6
Celtic 16
Shots off target
Kilmarnock 2
Celtic 10
Attempts out of box
Kilmarnock 0
Celtic 4
Hit woodwork
Kilmarnock 0
Celtic 3
Total offsides
Kilmarnock 1
Celtic 0
Distribution
Total passes
Kilmarnock 370
Celtic 661
Pass accuracy %
Kilmarnock 81.4
Celtic 90.9
Backward passes
Kilmarnock 70
Celtic 131
Forward passes
Kilmarnock 162
Celtic 205
Total long balls
Kilmarnock 48
Celtic 49
Successful final third passes
Kilmarnock 79
Celtic 102
Total crosses
Kilmarnock 15
Celtic 16
Defence
Total tackles
Kilmarnock 16
Celtic 17
Won tackle %
Kilmarnock 56.3
Celtic 64.7
Fouls committed
Kilmarnock 12
Celtic 10
Total yellow cards
Kilmarnock 1
Celtic 0
Total clearances
Kilmarnock 24
Celtic 19
Clearances off the line
Kilmarnock 0
Celtic 1
Pre Match Facts
Kilmarnock are yet to lose consecutive league matches under manager Neil McCann. He has, however, never beaten
Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in four attempts (D1 L3).
Celtic are looking to win their opening two Scottish Premiership matches for the fifth consecutive season, last failing to do so in 2021-22 under Ange Postecoglou.
No player has scored more goals (17) or winning goals (6) than
Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren in the Scottish Premiership since the beginning of last season.
On MD1 against Dundee,
Celtic’s Kieran Tierney has assisted his ninth goal in the Scottish Premiership since the beginning of last season, the joint-most in the league in the period along with Calvin Miller.
Articles
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cwj03el5943nt#Report
Kasper Hogh scores first Celtic goals with first-half hat-trick
Benjamin Nygren adds to lead, but Michael Schjonning-Larsen replies before Luke McCowan restores advantage
Celtic led by Shaun Maloney in absence of Martin O’Neill after time in hospital
ByAndy Coyle
BBC Sport Scotland
Kasper Hogh scored his first Celtic goals as his hat-trick steered Celtic to an emphatic victory away to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership in the absence of Martin O’Neill.
The veteran manager missed the game as he continued convalescing at home following “a small procedure” in hospital earlier this week, with assistant Shaun Maloney guiding the reigning champions to a second win of the new season.
Celltic enjoyed a dream start on the new grass surface at Rugby Park, taking the lead after just 64 seconds.
Kieran Tierney fed Arne Engels on the left and his cross was met by Hogh and the summer arrival from Bodo/Glimt rose to firmly head home.
Kilmarnock responded well but failed to take advantage of some good chances in a lively opening period and Celtic went on to punish their defensive mistakes.
The visitors got their second just after the half-hour mark, with Camilo Duran pouncing on Johnly Yfeko’s slack pass out of defence and starting a quick passing move that ended with Hogh squeezing a tidy finish past goalkeeper Max Stryjek and into the bottom corner.
Moments later, the Danish striker completed his hat-trick with another header, finding himself unmarked and perfectly positioned when Duran’s cross was lifted over Stryjek to the back post.
Celtic were creating chances almost at will but could not add to the scoreline before the break.
However, matters went from bad to worse for the hosts immediately after the restart, with a Stryjek howler handing Celtic a fourth.
The goalkeeper passed the ball directly to Benjamin Nygren, who composed himself before burying a finish into the top corner.
Duran and Yang went close, but Kilmarnock got on the scoresheet when Michael Schjonning-Larsen finished off a flowing move that had cut through the Celtic defence.
Luke McCowan added a fifth from a corner, the midfielder scoring with his first touch moments after coming on as a substitute, to round off a comfortable win for the champions.
Hogh starts to repay fee – analysis
The club record fee Celtic paid to Bodo/Glimt for Hogh means he moved to Glasgow with a weight of expectation, but his competitive debut against Dundee last week did not quite deliver as a few good chances for an impressive introduction were spurned.
If there was any frustration in the week waiting for another opportunity to make an impact, it was dispelled instantly as the number nine gave Celtic a comfortable cushion and the platform for an encouraging performance.
Champions League goals against big names like Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, along with regular returns in domestic competition with the overachieving Norwegians, had underlined his goalscoring ability.
However, even amid the excitement over his arrival there were some who questioned whether he could hit the heights away from Bodo/Glimt’s well-oiled machine.
On this evidence, Hogh can thrive in the Premiership. The three goals the Dane helped himself to were not individually eye-catching but showed a player who can constantly find space in the box and knows where the goal is.
Kilmarnock’s defending made for a welcoming environment for the striker and also handed Nygren and McCowan goals that help Celtic build early momentum.
For home manager Neil McCann, the openness and lapses at the back that let Celtic help themselves will be a serious concern, especially after Kilmarnock conceded four to newly-promoted St Johnstone on opening day.
The hosts, back playing on grass at home after their controversial artificial surface was replaced in the summer, played well in spells and could easily have drawn level in the first half hour.
However, they need to tighten up in defence if they are to avoid a repeat of the relegation worries that dogged the team until the final games of last season.
What they said
01:21
Figure caption,
‘I take full responsibility’ – McCann on Celtic defeat
Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: “I’ll take responsibility for that today.
“I know we made some mistakes on the pitch, but I went quite quite aggressive today and quite open. We’ve made some errors within that and we were punished by a really good Celtic side. When their tails are up, you can see how well they move it around.
“We’ve got a massive game on Friday in the cup against Ayr United and we’ll look to put things right.”
Celtic assistant Shaun Maloney: “Kasper had a brilliant game. He probably had as many chances today as he did against Dundee, but that’s the life of a striker – you have to be there to take them.
“His all-round game today was very good. He gave us a platform to play. Kilmarnock tried to press us really aggressively, man for man, and everything that went up to him he held, so we were able to run off of him.
“I was really happy with the team. I loved the creativity because we created a lot, but the biggest thing was the mentality. We were at 100%, full throttle and never really came off that.”
Celtic’s O’Neill misses Kilmarnock match after hospital stay
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czrj01k81mxo
Celtic manager Martin O’NeillImage source, SNS
Image caption,
Martin O’Neill will not be in the dugout on Sunday at Rugby Park
Published
9 August 2026, 12:59 BST
Updated 6 hours ago
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill will not be in the dugout for his side’s Scottish Premiership match against Kilmarnock on Sunday following his midweek hospital stay.
O’Neill is convalescing at home after undergoing “a small procedure” earlier this week and assistant Shaun Maloney will take charge of the Scottish champions at Rugby Park.
The 74-year-old Northern Irishman is understood to be recovering well, but the match has come too early for him to attend.
Maloney said O’Neill is “doing loads better” and spoke to the team earlier in the day.
O’Neill out of hospital, but ‘no timeline’ for return
Published
2 days ago
“He was at the team hotel, he spoke to the players just after the meeting. He’s in good form,” he told BBC Scotland.
“He just needs a couple of extra days, I think.
“I guess he’ll take it day to day, but he’s definitely in good spirits. We’ll see how he is in a week.”
Maloney said they were “hopeful” that O’Neill would be well enough to return for the Premier Sports Cup tie against Dundee United next weekend.
O’Neill signed a one-year deal in June to become permanent manager after two interim spells last season culminated in a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference on Friday, Maloney said O’Neill was “loads better than he was Monday, Tuesday”.
The former Celtic and Scotland midfielder said the Scottish champions will “definitely miss him” if he did not make the game at Rugby Park.
“The impact that he’s had over, what was it, since October, it’s been nothing short of incredible really – the things that he does with the players and the staff,” he added.
Hat-trick for Høgh in five-star Celtic performance
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/august/09/hat-trick-for-h-gh-in-five-star-celtic-performance/
First Team
By Gerry McCulloch
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09 Aug 2026, 3:33 pm
Scottish Premiership
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
KILMARNOCK…1
(Schjonning-Larsen 56)
CELTIC…5
(Høgh 2, 33 & 35, Nygren 47, McCowan 75)
Kasper Hogh arrived as a Celtic striker at Rugby Park with a first-half hat-trick that had the away support in dreamland. The Dane was simply lethal in front of goal and walked away with the match ball and a smile as wide as the Clyde. Further strikes from Benjamin Nygren and Luke McCowan added to Hogh’s first-half haul in a performance that, at times, was vintage Celtic.
Assistant Manager Shaun Maloney called for a more energetic start for the Bhoys than they produced in the league opener at home to Dundee and he got just that. Celtic scored from their first attack after just sixty-five seconds. A fantastic cross on the left from Arne Engels, on his 100th Celtic appearance, and Kasper Hogh was there to nod the ball down into the net from just a yard out. His first goal for Celtic and the penalty box predator had the away fans in raptures.
Kilmarnock came close to an equalizer in the fifth minute with Erik Ring prodding the ball wide after a shot by Tshibola had landed kindly at his feet inside the six yard box.
Camilo Duran then came close with a curling left foot effort just wide of the post. It was an eventful opening six minutes.
Kilmarnock were next to threaten the goal, captain Greg Kiltie producing a fine fingertip save from Sinisalo from the left side of the six yard box.
Engels and Duran both had shots from just outside the box saved by Stryjek as Celtic pushed for a second goal.
How they didn’t get it in the eighteenth minute only Max Stryjek knows. An incredible double save from the Kilmarnock keeper, first from Arne Engels then Kasper Hogh before Kieran Tierney’s shot was blocked. The Kilmarnock goalmouth was living a charmed life.
Stryjek once again was at his best midway through the first half with a strong save from a Tierney shot that looked goalbound.
Celtic did finally get their second in the thirty second minute. Once again it was the Dane, Hogh, with the finish, stroking a right foot shot into the corner of the net after good build-up play involving Duran and Nygren. Hogh showing that, given the service, he knows the way to goal.
Two minutes later he had his hat-trick, showing why the club was prepared to spend a record fee for his services. This time Duran with the cross from the right and there was Hogh with the diving header to beat Stryjek. Martin O’Neill, watching from his recovery bed, would’ve been over the moon with what he was seeing from his new number nine.
The half-time whistle must’ve come as a relief to the Kilmarnock players, although the boos from the home crowd would have resonated in their ears as they trudged off the pitch.
36%
Possession
64%
10
Shots
33
6
Shots On Target
16
5
Corners
7
12
Fouls
10
1
0
Cards
0
0
One change was made to the Celtic line-up at the break with Colby Donovan replacing Alistair Johnston for the second-half and within two minutes Celtic had a fourth goal as Benjamin Nygren pounced on a misplaced pass by Max Stryjek to fire his left-foot shot high into the net for his second of the season.
Duran smashed an effort against the crossbar two minutes later and it was clear Celtic were in no mood to put their tools away, this game being already over as a contest.
Kilmarnock did pull a goal back in the fifty-sixth minute through Michael Schjonning-Larsen
Sebastian Tounetki came on for Duran on sixty-three minutes and it was the Tunisian who set up Hogh with another header at the far post. This time, however, the ball came back off the post from the head of the great Dane.
Luke McCowan was introduced to the proceedings alongside James Forrest, replacing Benjamin Nygren and Yang respectively, and it was McCowan who got Celtic’s fifth goal with his first touch of the game, his right foot effort beating Stryjek from inside the box.
The full-time whistle put Kilmarnock out of their misery but this was a Celtic performance, so early in the season, that will give the team great confidence as they head to Tannadice to face Dundee United on Saturday.
Kilmarnock: Stryjek, Brandon, Stanger, Yfeko, Schjønning-Larsen (O’Hara 74′), Tshibola, Ring, Lowery, Kiltie, John-Jules (Rice 75′), Hugill
Subs: O’Hara, McKenzie, Ferrie, Clescenco, Thomson, Schilte-Brown, Owen, Bowie, Rice
Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston (Donovan 45′), Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney, McGregor, Engels, Durán (Tounekti 64′), Nygren (Forrest 74′), Hyunjun Yang (McCowan 74′), Høgh (Osmand 82′)
Subs: McCowan, Tounekti, Osmand, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Doohan, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Donovan
Kasper Høgh: Post-match reaction after 5-1 victory against Kilmarnock
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/august/09/kasper-h-gh–post-match-reaction-after-5-1-victory-against-kilmarnock/
First Team
By Daylin Docherty
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09 Aug 2026, 4:40 pm
A stunning first-half hat-trick from Kasper Høgh helped Celtic produce an emphatic performance at Rugby Park as the Hoops defeated Kilmarnock 5–1.
The striker needed little more than a minute to open the scoring and went on to complete his treble before the interval, taking home the match ball after a clinical display from the champions.
Speaking to Gerry McCulloch on CelticPlayer after the match, Høgh expressed his delight at the result and explained how his work on the training pitch paid off at Rugby Park.
“First of all, all glory to God,” he said. “You can see I’m a happy man, and I got some great assists from the boys today.
“The feeling we had as a team and the way we played was so nice. We had such a good connection and suddenly the ball was going into the goal.
“After the first game, I said that I had to do some shooting practice. I just take one day at a time and keep training, so it was nice to see that pay off today.”
Shaun Maloney: Post-match reaction from Rugby Park
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/august/09/shaun-maloney–post-match-reaction-on-celticplayer/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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09 Aug 2026, 4:29 pm
Celtic delivered a blistering performance at Rugby Park this afternoon (Sunday, August 9), putting five past Kilmarnock and taking all three points with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Neil McCann’s side.
New Bhoy Kasper Høgh will rightly take the headlines for his first-half hat-trick, but across the park Celtic performed brilliantly and made it two wins from two following their opening day victory against Dundee.
With Martin O’Neill still recovering following a small procedure at hospital during the week, Assistant Manager Shaun Maloney took charge of the team this afternoon and, speaking to CelticPlayer after the match, Maloney was keen to heap praise on the players for their performance.
“I’m delighted. Really, really happy.” He said. “I thought we were excellent today.
“I’d say the most impressive thing was the mentality. We started the game at full throttle and we never came off it.
‘Considering the week that we’ve had, it’s a massive credit to the group that they’ve performed like that, and I’m sure the boss is extremely happy.’
“If he turned up on Monday and this hadn’t been the result, I might have been in a spot of bother!
“I’m really looking forward to having him back. We’ve missed him today and I’m really glad we got a win for him.”
Kasper Hogh’s ‘big personality’ will endear him to Celtic fans as stand-in boss reveals Arne Engels latest
Lewis Anderson
By Lewis Anderson
Sports journalist
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/kasper-hoghs-big-personality-will-endear-him-to-celtic-fans-as-stand-in-boss-reveals-arne-engels-latest-8847336
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Published 9th Aug 2026, 17:43 BST
Stand-in Celtic boss thrilled to end ‘tough week’ on a high in Ayrshire
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Shaun Maloney reckons a “big personality” will endear Kasper Hogh to the Celtic fans after the Danish international’s scintillating first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock steered the champions to an emphatic 5-1 victory in Ayrshire.
In the absence of veteran boss Martin O’Neill, assistant manager Maloney was placed in charge and guided the visitors to a commanding second win of the new season, with Hogh bagging three goals in the space of 35 minutes to light up Rugby Park.
Benjamin Nygren got on the scoresheet within minutes of the restart before Michael Schjonning-Larsen pulled one back for Kilmarnock, but substitute Luke McCowan completed the rout with 15 minutes remaining.
Discussing Hogh’s emphatic early impact, Maloney admits it was vital for the former Bodo/Glimt centre-forward to get off the mark as he looks to justify his hefty £11m price tag.
“It was huge,” Maloney reacted when asked about Hogh scoring first goals for the club. “He’s really settled in quickly. His performance against Dundee was good, even though he missed some chances. But that’s the life of a no.9. I was really impressed with his all-round game.
“Kilmarnock go man-for-man and try to press you aggressive, but everything that went up to him stuck and he was a platform for our team. The goals kind of topped it off.
“We’ve watched him for a long, long time and we know if we create chances, he will score them. We haven’t known him for too long but he has a big personality, which you need as a Celtic No.9.
“Duran has also come in with a different personality, he’s quiet and gets on with his work. He was brilliant as well. They are two very different personalities but they have both settled in really well.
“The players were really impressive today but probably the most impressive thing was the mentality. We started full throttle and never really came off it. It’s been a tough week for everyone but they were really good. It’s set a standard and we have to reach that in every game.”
Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston update issued
Maloney issued a fresh update on the futures of Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston, with the latter withdrawn at half-time as a precaution after suffering an injury niggle.
“Michael and Martin will be able to to tell you the exact strategy around any of the outgoings in relation to the Champions League games,” Maloney responded when asked if there had been any developments on the duo. “Arne was as good as I’ve seen him. I thought he was excellent at the end of last season. It’s been hard for him in preseason. He’s been with us the whole time and it’s not been an easy summer for him.
“He wanted to see me yesterday and he was really strong in wanting to put a performance on today. I thought him and McGregor were brilliant. I’m a huge fan of Arne. He showed what he has today, his pass at the end for Forrest was outstanding.”
No movement on potential incomings
On potential transfer activity and whether there had been any movement over the last 48 hours, Maloney added: “I don’t think so. The last time I spoke to Michael and Martin was after training yesterday, so I don’t think so. Business is going on as normal.
“Martin still able to talk to Michael and the targets we have are still the same. We have to respect what he’s been through and trying to take some of the workload off him for a few days. But it’s all going on as normal and hopefully he’s back next week.”
Celtic’s pitch-perfect signing dazzles as grass isn’t always greener in Ayrshire
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtics-pitch-perfect-signing-dazzles-as-grass-isnt-always-greener-in-ayrshire-8847332
Lewis Anderson
By Lewis Anderson
Sports journalist
Comments
Published 9th Aug 2026, 15:40 BST
Club-record signing lights up Rugby Park on dreich afternoon as Celtic dish out five-goal thumping
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Kilmarnock debuted their immaculate new £1.4 million hybrid surface – but the grass isn’t always greener on the other side as Neil McCann’s side found out against reigning Premiership champions Celtic.
This quickly developed into the Kasper Hogh show as Celtic’s record-breaking £11m signing showcased his quality and sliced through the hosts backline like a hot knife through butter on route to a clinical hat-trick with only 35 minutes on the clock.
Never mind splashing out all that money on a lush new pitch after parting with their artificial surface, Kilmarnock would have been better off investing in more experienced reinforcements to shore up their leaky defence. They were cut open with alarming ease and failed to learn lessons after shipping four goals away to newly-promoted St Johnstone last week.
There was no Martin O’Neill in the away dugout as he continues to recover at home from a ‘small procedure’ in hospital. Shaun Maloney oversaw proceedings in the 74-year-old’s absence, revealing pre-match that the Irishman was faring “loads better” and had visited the team hotel on Sunday morning to address to his players at their team meeting.
Seeking an improved performance in the Ayrshire drizzle from Monday night’s narrow 1-0 win at home to Dundee, stand-in boss Maloney named an unchanged line-up. Hogh was entrusted with leading the line again after drawing a blank on his first start, while Camilo Duran continued on the right flank. Both were a constant menace throughout.
Kilmarnock boss McCann handed former Rangers centre-back Johnly Yfeko a debut as one of two defensive changes to his side following their 4-3 defeat in Perth on the opening weekend of the Premiership season.
How Kilmarnock 1-5 Celtic unfolded
They were back on home soil for the first time this term after playing their recent League Cup games at nearby Beechwood Park in Auchinleck. If the previous meeting between these two sides here six months ago was anything to go – a five-goal thriller that went in Celtic’s favour courtesy of a dramatic Julian Araujo stoppage-time winner – the 8,353 crowd in attendance were in for a treat.
The travelling support were in fine voice and had plenty to cheer in the early exchanges. It took ex-Bodo/Glimt hitman Hogh just two minutes to open his account for the club on his second appearance, ghosting in unchallenged at the back post to head home exit-linked Arne Engels cross from the left.
Play raged from end to end during a pulsating first-half and the home side caused Celtic moments of alarm from set-pieces. Tyreece John-Jules looped a header towards the top corner which visiting keeper Viljami Sinisalo had to tip over the crossbar.
Passing the half hour mark, it was one-way traffic thereafter. Celtic looked in the mood and were displaying their attacking prowess, with Max Stryjek saving efforts from Engels, Duran, Benjamin Nygren and Kieran Tierney in quick succession.
Hungry to press home their advantage, Celtic’s new number nine seized the game by the scruff of the neck – notching two goals in two minutes to wrap up his hat-trick. This was finishing of the highest order from Hogh, with his second goal stemming from slack Yfeko defending before rounding off another sweeping move moments later by stooping low to nod Duran’s cross into an empty net.
Kilmarnock were being ripped apart and McCann was baring the brunt of it on the touchline from Celtic’s gleeful away support. If their wretched start was anything to go by, it was no surprise to see Celtic pick up from where they left off after the restart. Nygren fired home after being presented with a gift from Stryjek’s woeful clearance. Duran then clipped the woodwork from the next passage of play.
Michael Schjonning-Larsen pulled one back to hand the hosts an unexpected lifeline after 56 minutes but it proved scant consolation for a dazed and dishevelled Kilmarnock as substitute Luke McCowan volleyed home a fifth for Celtic within seconds of his introduction to wrap up a comprehensive victory.