There are moments in a title race where everything feels like it’s hanging by a thread.
Not just results. Not just performances. But the small details that quietly shape everything behind the scenes. One injury. One absence. One position that suddenly becomes a problem at exactly the wrong time.
For Celtic, this is one of those moments.
With just six games left and the gap to the top sitting at three points, there is no room left for mistakes. Every match now carries weight. Every selection matters. And yet, just as the pressure reaches its peak, a new concern has emerged that could change everything.
It started weeks ago, almost unnoticed at first.
The right-back position, usually one of stability, began to show cracks. Julian Araujo disappeared from the picture after the Scottish Cup penalty shootout win at Ibrox. Then came the setback for Alistair Johnston, who travelled with Canada only to aggravate his injury again, delaying what many thought would be a timely return.
Martin O’Neill spoke about it in recent days. The hope had been there. The timeline seemed clear. Then suddenly, it wasn’t.
And just when it felt like Celtic were managing the situation, something else shifted.
Colby Donovan.
The young defender had quietly stepped into the spotlight. Not perfect, but trusted. Not established, but growing into the role when it mattered most. In a run-in defined by pressure, he had become part of the solution.
Which is why what happened next feels so significant.
Donovan is now facing tests ahead of Saturday’s must-win clash with St Mirren.
And suddenly, the situation doesn’t look manageable anymore.
Because if he is ruled out, Celtic are left with just one recognised senior right-back. Antony Ralston. Reliable, experienced, but not the first choice in recent weeks. The depth is gone. The flexibility is gone. And at the worst possible time, the options are running out.
You can feel the tension building.
This is not just about one player. It is about what his absence represents. A team chasing a title should not be entering the final stretch with uncertainty in such a key position. And yet, that is exactly where Celtic find themselves.
Araujo remains a question mark. Johnston’s return is delayed again. Donovan is now under assessment.
Three names. Three doubts.
And one huge problem.
There is some hope, at least on the surface. Reports suggest Araujo could still play a part before the season ends. But hope is not certainty. And right now, certainty is exactly what Celtic need.
Because St Mirren are coming.
And this is not just another fixture.
This is one of those afternoons where anything less than three points feels like a step too far. The margin for error has disappeared. The pressure is constant. And the expectation inside Celtic Park will be unforgiving.
O’Neill knows it. The players know it. The fans feel it.
But as the countdown to kick-off continues, one question lingers.
Who plays at right-back?
And in a title race this tight, that question might matter more than anyone expected.
