Celtic's handling of loan signings Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo has become a growing source of frustration among supporters, with both Chelsea youngsters barely featuring this season.
Mheuka has made nine appearances, all from the bench, totalling just 80 minutes on the pitch. Emenalo has fared even worse, managing only 39 minutes across two substitute outings. Both were left out of the matchday squad for Sunday's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock and are now away on international duty with England under-20s and under-19s respectively.
Loan Strategy Under Scrutiny
The situation has led fans to question the purpose of bringing in these players. In Mheuka's case, manager Martin O'Neill is trying to play Kasper Hogh into form while keeping Camilo Duran happy, with the Colombian shunted out wide. The 19-year-old has looked a handful in his rare appearances, but the point of his loan is being questioned.
Emenalo's situation is described as even more bizarre. Celtic spent the summer looking for a left back to ease the load on Kieran Tierney, but only brought in the injured youngster just before deadline day. Even after he got fit, Tierney started all nine games in a gruelling 28-day run, and Emenalo wasn't on the bench for the final match.
Wider Concerns Over Loan Reliance
Celtic have become heavily reliant on loans recently, with many arrivals making little impact. Julian Araujo was okay, while Oliver Sorensen has yet to impress, and names like Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu have become infamous.
Last season, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey arrived from Manchester City as Premier League 2 player of the year but got just 64 minutes before his move was cut short. Benjamin Arthur managed four full games and a couple of substitute appearances before disappearing.
There are concerns that ignoring these players could deter English clubs from sending prospects north, and that squad fillers block the progress of homegrown talents like Lucas Clearie, who is scoring for the B team.
