Martin O’Neill ‘not sure what to make of’ Celtic, so what are issues?

As delightful as it is to have a diamond like Duran, O’Neill won’t want his side to become overly dependent on the 24-year-old in the way they previously did with the now departed Maeda.

Hogh, a poacher, is the polar-opposite to livewire Duran and, with the service as poor as it was from the wings on Wednesday, it was always going to be a night of struggle for the Dane.

He touched the ball just twice in the box before the break, but O’Neill did hint at the club’s record signing needing to do more. “You just can’t put the ball on a plate for people,” he said to Sky Sports. “They have to make room for themselves in the penalty box to try and score a goal.”

Yang Hyun-jun was also missed after a glittering start to the season, but the drop-off in confidence, quality and delivery from the South Korea winger to Tounekti was staggering, with former Scotland international James McFadden calling his performance and decision-making “safe” at half-time.

“He likes to come inside, that’s pretty positive until the last part,” he said on Sky Sports.

“He’s got a big problem in his starting position, where he receives the ball, he’s always in the eye-line of the defender.

“He’s frustrating to watch because he’s quick and sharp with good feet, but he’s desperate to come inside and never wants to take the risk of going down the outside.”

Countless times in the first half especially, Hogh cut an exasperated figure after pulling and pealing away from defenders before not being found by his team-mate.