Martin O'Neill is finally seeing the bigger picture with Kasper Hogh

Martin O'Neill is finally seeing the full picture when it comes to Kasper Hogh's poor form.

The Celtic striker who could yet become a club-record signing, has only scored three times for the Bhoys so far, and all of those goals came in his second game of the season.

Hogh hasn't scored since August, and his overall performances have been poor, but O'Neill kept saying that all he needs is a goal. Amid those comments, many pointed out that goals aren't really the main concern for Hogh.

Celtic needed a striker who could hold the ball up and bring others into play, but the Dane has not been managing that amid his poor form, which is the greater concern.

O'Neill is finally seeing, or at least publicly admitting, that. He has said: "Very much so. Centre-forwards need a goal. But that performance there against European opposition will give him confidence.

“I don’t know what side we will play on Sunday (against Kilmarnock). But this lad has scored goals in the Champions League remember. He will get a confidence boost from last night in terms of doing that part of the game well. It will be nice for him to score a goal.

“I want centre-forwards to be able to hold it and that is what he did. He is not Duran, he is not a dribbler. But if he can do this for us against strong opposition it will stand him in good stead. I think the other night will be good for him. I said to him that I’m not worried about whether he scores a goal.

“Of course you want centre-forwards to score and of course centre-forwards live on them. But I said to him I wanted him to be strong and fight when the ball is played up to him. I thought in terms of holding the ball up and bringing people into the game that he did really well.”

Hogh was a little better against Besiktas, but he doesn't seem to have an awareness of what is happening around him and therefore what is needed from him.

Too often he is flicking on balls that need to brought down and protected, while his sloppy passes means he is regularly giving the ball away.

There is nothing to say that better ability is not there, but it has been missing for months, and O'Neill needs to see more, especially with Durán in electric form, now with 13 goals for the season.