Viljami Sinisalo has been impressing for Celtic. Since becoming the club's starting goalkeeper on a full-time basis due to Kasper Schmeichel's possible career-ending injury, he has made an impact and has won over the fans.
He has also won over Martin O'Neill, with the manager expressing his happiness at Sinisalo's performances in his latest press conference. He said:
"I have been pleasantly surprised. It's nice to see him try to take this chance in difficult circumstances for a goalkeeper, regardless of what happens, with the shadow of what's going on in the background.
He's been wanting to do well, and he's been thrown into some big games. Apparently, he did well at Ibrox last season too.
But I'm only judging him on my time here. The first game I put him in was against Auchinleck in the cup at Kilmarnock. I thought there were a couple of things he could have grabbed. He did okay against Dundee in the cup, and then, honestly, he grew into it at Stuttgart and the Ibrox matches.
I've been really pleased with him, really pleased. [Him being the starting goalkeeper next season] may be a decision for someone else to make, but I'm really delighted with him."
O'Neill was also asked if Sinisalo can handle the pressure of the title race:
"Good point. I think he's done really well, but who knows who can handle what. But the signs have been very positive. He's grabbed a couple, he came at and headed one clear that must have been closer to the halfway line at Ibrox. I've been really pleased with him, he's a lovely lad, and I hope he does well. He's genuinely a really good lad."
Only time will tell if he can handle the pressure of the title race, but supporters will be hopeful that he can. He has handled the pressure of being deep in enemy territory at Ibrox, so it seems he can do anything.
Should Sinisalo be No. 1 next season?
Sinisalo has been an amazing asset to Celtic this season, but whether he will remain as the first choice next season is a question yet to be answered.
With a new manager still set to come in, we probably won't know for a while if a goalkeeper will be one of the Hoops' top transfer targets, but we can imagine it might be.
Sinisalo is quite young and does deserve the chance though. If he continues to impress, there is no reason why he shouldn't be given a full season in nets.
