Celtic Boss Backs Kasper Hogh Amid Form Slump Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Celtic summer signing Kasper Hogh is reportedly “feeling a bit down” following an extended goal slump for the Parkhead side.
• The £11 million Danish striker has failed to score in any competitive match since netting an August hat-trick against Kilmarnock.
• Hogh started in Celtic’s midweek 4-1 UEFA Europa League defeat to Benfica in Lisbon, hitting the post before being substituted at half-time.
• The forward was introduced from the bench during Celtic’s emphatic 7-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Hearts at Parkhead, setting up Benjamin Nygren for the final goal.
• Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and team-mate Callum Osmand have publicly backed the forward, with O’Neill expressing firm confidence that goals will soon flow for the Dane.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) October 19, 2026 – Celtic FC summer signing Kasper Hogh is working through a challenging period of form after manager Martin O’Neill acknowledged that the high-profile forward is feeling low about his current lack of goals.

The 26-year-old Danish international, who arrived in Glasgow during the summer transfer window in an £11 million deal from Norwegian outfit Bodø/Glimt, has experienced a difficult period in front of goal. Hogh has not scored a goal since his home hat-trick against Kilmarnock in August, leaving him on a lengthy goal drought across all competitions for club and country. Despite the barren run, Celtic management and senior squad members have rallied around the forward, insisting that his overall contributions and technical quality in training will inevitably lead to a change in fortune.

How did Celtic respond during the 7-1 victory over Hearts?

As reported by local sports reporters covering Parkhead, Celtic delivered a dominant response to their midweek European disappointment by securing a resounding 7-1 victory over Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday. Hogh started the match on the substitute bench following a taxing midweek outing in Portugal, with O’Neill opting to rotate his attacking line.

Coming on as a second-half substitute, Hogh made an immediate impact by setting up team-mate Benjamin Nygren in the 83rd minute for Celtic’s seventh goal of the afternoon. As recorded by Scottish Premiership match reporters, the forward held up play before delivering the final pass, demonstrating his willingness to contribute to collective team goals despite his individual goal drought. The performance followed goals from Kieran Tierney, Callum Osmand, Camilo Durán, and an own goal by Jamie McCart, as the Hoops asserted their domestic authority.

What transpired during Celtic’s European tie against Benfica?

As detailed by Ryan McDonald of the Daily Record, Hogh endured a frustrating night in Lisbon during Celtic’s 4-1 UEFA Europa League defeat against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz. Starting as the focal point of the attack, the Danish striker came agonisingly close to breaking his goal drought in the first half when a point-blank effort struck the post with Celtic trailing 2-0.

Following a difficult opening 45 minutes where he struggled to hold up play against a resolute Benfica defense, Hogh was substituted at half-time for young striker Callum Osmand. The defeat left Celtic seeking crucial points in their European campaign, but former Celtic forward Chris Sutton noted in media comments that Hogh remained a team player whose broader movement and physical work-rate should not be overlooked during scrutiny over his strike-rate.

How has Celtic manager Martin O’Neill backed his £11m striker?

As quoted by Scottish sports journalists following Sunday’s match at Parkhead, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill addressed the striker’s current mindset and assured supporters that the coaching staff hold total belief in his abilities. O’Neill acknowledged that the lack of goals had naturally affected the Danish international’s confidence in recent weeks.

“Kasper is a bit down at the moment because strikers live and breathe on goals,”

O’Neill stated when discussing the player’s recent form.

“He came here with a big price tag and high expectations, and when the goals do not go in for a few games, it is only natural for a forward to feel it. But we see his quality every single day in training. The work ethic is there, the talent is undeniable, and I am completely confident that once one goal goes in, the strikes will start flowing naturally for him.”

What did team-mate Callum Osmand reveal about Hogh’s professionalism?

As reported by Ryan McDonald of the Daily Record, Celtic striker Callum Osmand spoke candidly about his competition with Hogh and praised the Danish international’s conduct behind the scenes. Osmand, who returned from an ankle injury to feature against Benfica and Hearts, emphasized that Hogh maintains high standards despite the pressure.

As reported by Ryan McDonald of the Daily Record, Osmand stated that

“Kasper’s a great guy. He knows how to act and how to hold himself and he’s a top professional. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him put a bad thing in his body, but, yeah, he knows what he’s doing.”

Osmand further added: “Obviously, his goals speak for themselves at Bodø and I’m sure it will come. He’s a top player. I see him every day in training and, yeah, he’s a really, really great guy, top player, and he helps me a lot. So, yeah, I’m sure it will come. He’s a really, really top player. I think it is a lot about confidence in the attacking positions, and when your confidence is high, you play better and sometimes it’s about getting that goal.”

Background of the particular development

The arrival of Kasper Hogh at Celtic Park in the summer of 2026 marked one of the most notable transfers in recent Scottish football history. Following a remarkable campaign with Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt—where he scored regularly in domestic competition and produced standout performances in European football, including a memorable brace against Manchester City—Celtic sanctioned an £11 million transfer to bring the Danish striker to Glasgow.

Hogh made an immediate impression on the Scottish Premiership stage, culminating in a brilliant hat-trick against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park in August. His combination of physical presence, hold-up play, and clinical finishing positioned him as Celtic’s primary reference-point striker early in the campaign.

However, following that early success, Celtic navigated a demanding fixture schedule across domestic and European competitions. As teams adjusted their defensive setups to counter Hogh’s physical profile, the striker encountered a barren spell in front of goal. The pressure heightened following a sequence of tough results, including a domestic loss to Rangers and Europa League defeats against Ferencváros and Benfica. Simultaneously, rival attacking options such as Callum Osmand returned from injury, creating healthy competition for the starting center-forward position within Martin O’Neill’s squad hierarchy.

Prediction: How this development can affect Celtic FC and its fanbase

The public show of support from Martin O’Neill and the Celtic squad is poised to have a direct influence on both the team dynamics and the broader Celtic fanbase as the season progresses into a crucial period.

For the player and the squad, the manager’s explicit backing relieves immediate pressure on Hogh, allowing him to focus on his overall tactical integration rather than fixating solely on individual scoring metrics. In the short term, having competitive depth in Callum Osmand and Camilo Durán gives Celtic the flexibility to rotate Hogh out of the starting lineup without sacrificing attacking output, as demonstrated in the 7-1 victory over Hearts. This rotational strategy can allow Hogh to regain his sharpness as an impact substitute before re-establishing himself in the starting eleven.

For the Celtic supporters, management’s measured perspective helps temper panic surrounding an £11 million summer investment. If Hogh breaks his goal drought in upcoming fixtures—such as the crucial European clash against Celta Vigo at Parkhead—the resulting confidence boost could provide Celtic with a potent, multi-dimensional attacking unit capable of sustaining both a domestic title defense and a competitive European run. Conversely, should the drought persist, the debate surrounding Celtic’s offensive hierarchy will continue to be a primary talking point among commentators and supporters throughout the winter campaign.