Beware Hibees, the Ox is about to be unleashed

We need to brush aside the crushing disappointment of losing to VfB Stuttgart on Thursday by focusing on tomorrow’s clash with Hibs. What that game tells us in terms of the upcoming fixtures is that we have a major problem in the middle of the park with Arne Engels sidelined.

Paulo Bernardo was given the nod against the Bundesliga side on Thursday night and before that Reo Hatate had his chance. Neither has impressed. Now though it’s time for the Ox who is just the man we need over the coming weeks when the season will be defined one way or the other.

Like every game from now on in, the showdown with the Hibs tomorrow will be ever so vital, and dropping points can’t even be considered. We need to win, as the pressure is well and truly on.

To give us a better chance, we need to play our strongest starting XI, and the first name on the team sheet should be is the recently signed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Even in just two fleeting appearances from the bench it’s clear that the ex-England International is a cut above anything we boast in the middle of the park aside from the Celtic captain, all that is missing is his match fitness, something he will pick up game up game.

He has had a full week of training and Martin O’Neill has hinted that the Ox is ready to start. Unleash him against Hibs then get him ready for the two trips to Ibrox and the re-arranged fixture at Pittodrie.

For me, ‘Neville’ should be playing from the start on Sunday, especially with the following sabbath involving a trip to Ibrox, with a smaller Celtic support that the following week when the Broomloan will be free for the first time since Beautiful Sunday when French Eddie ruined them.

The Ox gives us a mixture of experience and ability in the middle of the park. He can control the tempo, and has the ability to be a match winner in one blink of the eye. That’s a trait that’s been missing from the centre of our midfield for quite some time, and the former Arsenal and Liverpool man can provide us with just that.

A good run out against a decent and combative Hibs side will do him and the side a world of good, and gives us a better chance of earning all three points.

It also gives him some much needed match fitness heading into the Ibrox clash, which can be classed as a game of the must not lose at any costs variety.

We’ve struggled in recent league fixtures against the Ibrox side, and the middle of the park was an area that has been a major factor in our derby woes. A fit and raring to go Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the side changes all that, and makes us all that stronger as a team.

Ox could be the difference maker in this turbulent season for Celtic and could prove to be a masterstroke signing for the shrewd interim Celtic manager.

Beware Hibees, the Ox is about to be unleashed…