Kris Boyd has hammered Celtic striker Kasper Hogh for his poor performances over recent weeks and months. Hogh started on Sunday as the Hoops came from behind to win 2-1, but the striker provided little, and that's nothing new.
Celtic's £11million striker scored a hat-trick in his second game for the club, but he hasn't scored since, and that was back in August. Even aside from the goals, Hogh is providing little and that is perhaps the biggest issue of all.
Martin O'Neill keeps defending the striker, as he should, claiming that it's just a matter of him getting goals, but while the lack of confidence explains the poor finishing, it doesn't explain why Hogh is offering nothing at all, not when he is a striker with a big frame who just needs to bring the ball down and make simple passes to have an impact.
“I can totally understand his frustration," said Sky Sports pundit Boyd on the coverage of the Hibs win. "If Celtic hadn't paid £11million for Kasper Hogh, would they continue persevering with him up front? Because right now he's offering absolutely nothing.
“When Camilo Duran plays through the middle, Celtic look a far better team. So yes, I can understand why he's frustrated. At the same time, he's scored another match-winning goal today. It's easy for us to sit here and say he's sulking, but he'll leave with the winner and he'll be happy with that.
“But I completely understand his point of view. If I'm the player scoring the goals and putting in the performances, and people are coming away from games saying I've been Celtic's best striker, why am I being moved out of position just to accommodate someone because of the transfer fee?
“I'll say it again, Kasper Hogh is offering absolutely nothing for me.”
Most fans will agree with that. It's why Hogh was replaced at half-time against Benfica then dropped completely for the following game. But then he was given a start today out of nowhere, with Durán, who scored from the central role over the weekend, being shifted out wide again.
It's all well and good trying to give Hogh confidence with game time, but he is not delivering, and Celtic are having to compromise their most in-form player in Durán by having to play him out wide as a result. That's a problem, and it's going to force O'Neill to be far harsher sooner or later.
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