Celtic are said to be alarmed by Kasper Hogh's form, but they are not yet in panic territory, according to a report. Hogh has been on a torrid run of form since his £11million arrival from Bodo/Glimt in the summer.
Hogh scored a hat-trick in his second outing for the club, but he has not scored since, and there has barely been any sight of another goal. Last Sunday did see him score a goal that was later ruled out due to a foul in the build-up, but the Dane has been clumsy in front of goal since his first game for the club.
There is a clear confidence issue, and while his performance was better last weekend, his performances have generally been poor.
According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Celtic are concerned about Hogh's form, but they are not in a state of panic just yet.
"I wouldn’t say they’re concerned, obviously there’s a bit of alarm, maybe at his lack of goals," he claimed.
"Celtic, as you said, he was their big summer transfer, they spent a lot of money to sign him from Bodo/Glimt after he had a great time there, scoring goals in the Champions League and everything else.
"He had a bright start, scoring that hat-trick in his second game against Kilmarnock but hasn't scored since. He did pick up an injury soon after that game, so maybe that set him back a bit as well.
"He had a goal disallowed last time out as well against Kilmarnock, but I just think maybe Martin O’Neill is still trying to work out his best team as well and maybe we’re not seeing the best of Kasper Hogh because of that."
Celtic should be worried about Hogh. Because of the fee he arrived on, there is this determination to see something that hasn't been there. Fans and the club are desperate to see the move work out, and that has blinded them from some of the red flags.
Hogh can still succeed at Celtic, there is no doubt, and confidence is playing a significant part. But the hope of him becoming a goalscoring striker doesn't seem to be realistic. From his first game for the club, his finishing has looked clumsy. He doesn't look like a natural finisher in the way that Camilo Durán is, and that has nothing to do with confidence.
That's why the focus should really be on getting his performances to where they should be so that he can help Celtic this season. Martin O'Neill is wasting his time with the claims that one goal will solve all.
The priority needs to be his performances and getting Hogh to be the hold-up striker Celtic need him to be.
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