It has been a long and drawn out process but Celtic may finally have found a solution to a persistent problem.
The Parkhead side have spent most of the summer in search of a goalkeeper, and they may well have found what they have been looking for after Stipe Pletikosa staked his claim for the position in this win over Cardiff City.
The Croat was selected for the pre-season outing ahead of Lukasz Zaluska, who had hoped he was heading into the season as Neil Lennon’s No.1. Pletikosa’s involvement did need to be billed as a ‘guest appearance’, however, as he had insisted that his cv -- which includes 82 caps for his country -- meant that it was inappropriate that he play in a trial match.
The semantics set aside, Lennon wanted to see for himself that the serious knee ligament injury which had restricted Pletikosa’s appearances in the last couple of seasons was no longer an issue. On this performance, which confirmed he is a composed, calming influence, the Celtic manager will be content with what he saw.
Lennon will look to discern if the goalkeeper is willing to feature in a similar fixture so that he can have another look at the 32-year-old.
Zaluska is almost certain to play against Hibernian in Celtic’s league opener on Sunday afternoon, but he is unlikely to be afforded many more competitive outings this term.
There is less debate about the rest of the side. Lennon was mindful that this was the final opportunity to fine tune his XI before the season starts. That was reflected in his team selection, with the 10 outfield players that started all likely to retain their places at Easter Road. That would explain the absence of club captain Scott Brown, who is suspended for the first two games of the season.
While Pletikosa was thrown in from the start, another Celtic debutant, Victor Wanyama, was afforded the luxury of watching his new team-mates from the bench before being invited to join in after 73 minutes as a replacement for Biram Kayal.
If that was the Wanyama’s first opportunity to introduce himself to supporters, no such introductions were required from Adam Matthews, Glenn Loovens and Joe Ledley, who all joined Celtic from Cardiff, while former Parkhead players David Marshall and Lee Naylor lined up for the home side.
Kenny Miller will have a medical at Cardiff today and is expected to further swell the contingent of former Celtic players under the management of Malky Mackay, another former Parkhead player.
In front of a small but enthusiastic crowd, the new Cardiff manager would have been happy with the start his side made; Aron Gunnarsson heading onto the top of the crossbar from a corner before Jonathan Parkin shot wide when he found himself behind the Celtic defence. The central pairing of Loovens and Kelvin Wilson is patently still at an embryonic stage, and less profligate opposition would have capitalised.
As ever, Celtic were much more convincing going forward, and Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes both tested Marshall before the latter got the better of him after 34 minutes. Emilio Izaguirre exchanged a swift one-two with Ledley and the Honduran’s cross found Stokes who directed a header past Marshall.
Commons came close to doubling the advantage with a free kick, but the midfielder was even more frustrated when he was cautioned just before half-time after the referee adjudged him to have taken a dive. Joe Mason’s penalty claims were then waved away when he fell under a naive challenge from Matthews early in the second half.
It was the young full-back’s final action as he was replaced soon after by Mark Wilson, while Daniel Majstorovic came on for Kelvin Wilson and James Forrest for Ki Sung-Yueng. The steady stream of substitutions did not disrupt Celtic’s flow, though and, with Stokes and Gary Hooper gradually finding their stride and range, another goal seemed imminent.
Charlie Mulgrew almost supplied it after connecting with a Commons free-kick, but Celtic had to be content with a shut out and a win.
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