Sinisalo Stakes Claim for Celtic No. 1, Forcing Schmeichel Role Shift
Sunday at 3: 00 p. m. ET will mark a turning point in Celtic’s goalkeeper pecking order: Kasper Schmeichel faces reduced first-team certainty while Viljami sinisalo presses to be the regular starter in both the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup run-ins. Managers and former players have framed the choice as selection on form versus experience.
Sinisalo’s recent run — three straight starts and a strong Stuttgart showing
Viljami Sinisalo, 24, has started Celtic’s past three matches and earned specific praise for his performance in the 4-1 away game in Stuttgart, where observers described him as competent and steady with crosses and saves. That run has given sinisalo a tangible claim to the No. 1 jersey at a time when the team is contesting both the league and the Scottish Cup, narrowing the margin for manager Martin O’Neill when naming lineups for key fixtures.
Schmeichel’s role may shift to off-field influence, Joe Hart says
Kasper Schmeichel, 39, remains in the squad but has faced scrutiny after the Stuttgart defeat and has been defended by manager Martin O’Neill, who cited illness affecting his availability before a league draw at Rangers. Former Celtic and England goalkeeper Joe Hart said Schmeichel can still have “a huge influence” on Celtic’s title and cup challenges and that influence can come “whether he’s on the field or not, ” signaling a potential coaching or leadership emphasis if Schmeichel cedes the starting spot. Hart also said he expects Schmeichel to get some game time in the remaining weeks as Celtic push for silverware.
O’Neill and selection dilemmas extend beyond the goalkeeping spot
Chris Sutton has urged O’Neill to start Sinisalo at Rangers and suggested dropping Benjamin Nygren alongside Kasper Schmeichel, arguing selection should be made on form. Sutton singled out Dane Murray and Luke McCowan as players who have pushed for starts after recent performances, and the debate around goalkeeper choice sits alongside these broader calls for bold selection decisions from the manager. Antti Niemi also praised Sinisalo’s ability to handle big-game pressure, adding weight to the argument for trusting the Finland international in high-stakes matches.
Still, O’Neill has publicly defended Schmeichel’s standing in the squad, and the veteran’s contract situation—he is out of contract at the end of the season—adds another layer to the decision about who should play now and who should be preserved for later matches. Schmeichel’s experience and leadership are facts that weigh against the momentum Sinisalo has built through recent starts.
That combination of performance, experience and squad dynamics means selection will be a tactical judgment with immediate consequences for match-day lineups and player roles across the remaining fixtures.
If O’Neill names sinisalo as his starter for the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Rangers on Sunday, Joe Hart’s view suggests Schmeichel will still receive some game time in the remaining weeks; if O’Neill reinstates Schmeichel, Sutton’s calls indicate pressure and criticism could intensify if results suffer. The next confirmed team sheet and the manager’s selection announcement ahead of the cup tie will signal which path Celtic have chosen.
