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New Years Substitutions

A month can feel like a long time in the SWPL…

And so it does, looking all the way back to the turn of the year to review the January that saw us mark Elena Sadiku’s first anniversary as the Celtic FC Women manager. The Christmas break was a significant punctuation mark in what had been an intense and enlightening season so far for everyone who is, in whatever capacity, invested in the success of this team. We crossed the threshold of the new year having played almost twice the number of games than in the first half of the previous season and not only was the number of fixtures between August and December an entirely new challenge but the quality of opposition to be faced in the Champions League required the players and staff to operate on a whole new level. 

Amy Gallacher during the final Champions League Group stage game against FC Twente

With the mixed emotions of the Champions League campaign in the rear view mirror, January felt like a fresh start, a time to focus on domestic competition and reassert some dominance. The month, of course, also brings with it a transfer window. This meant the opportunity to regroup and refresh was accompanied by the inevitable swirling of rumours alongside calls for personnel changes to invigorate the team. We didn’t have to wait long for the onset of activity which, unexpectedly, came in the form of Hana Kerner’s exit. A player whose Celtic career had been blighted by a long term injury, her versatility in attack and defence on the wing was something most fans were excited to see incorporated back into Sadiku’s plans, but it was not to be. More ominous felt the rumours of Caitlin Hayes’ potential departure which began to circulate ahead of the squad heading to Gran Canaria for some much needed warm weather training. While Hayes trained with her teammates in Spain, conspicuous by her absence was Signe Carstens who it was eventually announced would also be leaving Celtic seemingly for personal reasons, at the end of the month. The whispers around Caitlin Hayes’ departure continued upon the team’s return to face league duties and the possibility of her departure could have been in part to blame for the frosty reception given to the press ahead of the first competitive game of the year against Partick Thistle. While her challenge to the press around coverage of the team demonstrated an admirable protectiveness over her players, it also showed Sadiku’s propensity to wear her heart on her sleeve coming into conflict with the inevitably increased levels of scrutiny that accompany the growth of the women’s game. 

Elena Sadiku looks on to training in Gran Canaria (Credit: Celtic FC Women)

Celtic faced the first league challenge of the season against Partick Thistle with Chloe Logan in goal, raising questions and concerns amongst fans as to the fitness of our first choice and revered goalkeeper, Kelsey Daugherty. After the match, which ended in a 4-2 victory after a somewhat erratic performance, it was confirmed by Sadiku that Kelsey was being treated for a back injury but should be available again in the not too distant future, somewhat setting minds at rest. With the first three SWPL points of 2025 on the board, the fixtures kept on coming and an 8-0 victory over Aberdeen in the middle of the month reminded fans that this is indeed a team capable of chalking up the bigger score lines often demonstrated by it’s closest league rivals. With Rangers having dropped important points before the Christmas break the opportunity to catch up on games and close in on the top of the table was a tantalizing proposition as the month drew on. 

It was also around this time that Elena Sadiku confirmed both Murphy Agnew and Kit Loferski were prepared to return from injury. With Kit having been out for a considerable period, the prospect of having two pacey strikers back in contention for starting places was encouraging. At the time of writing both have made appearances although it is clear that minutes are still being carefully managed as the busy period of tricky post split fixtures approaches. With thoughts still very much on whether the squad could be strengthened in other ways, it was an extremely positive development to have the signing of Emma Westin announced from Hammerby on a deal until summer 2026. With the resources and networks available to Scottish clubs in terms of scouting capability, it was not surprising to see Sadiku bring in a known entity from her former club who had played against Celtic in a pre season friendly. A strong, physical winger with considerable experience, including Champions League, she is a player who can likely make an immediate impact, something we sorely need to carry the squad through the remainder of this tough season. 

Emma Westin makes her first appearance against Hearts

A 2-1 loss to Rangers in the League Cup semi-final as the end of the month approached was a massive disappointment in terms of performance and outcome as the possibility of a treble disappeared at the hands of our arch rivals. It was also after this match that rumours about Caitlin Hayes leaving started to reach a crescendo with those close to the team understanding a deal with WSL club Brighton & Hove Albion was all but done. Announced three days later and despite the fact that it was somewhat expected, the loss of such a talismanic player was bound to cause considerable shock waves among the support. Having signed for the club in the summer of 2021, Hayes had been with the side all the way through the rapid phase of post professionalisation development. With her distinctive pink pre-wrap and natural rapport with young fans, her loss will be keenly felt and she will be remembered as one of the key figures in the early growth of Celtic FC Women as a professional side.

Caitlin Hayes who played her last game for Celtic this month

On a more positive note, the same day as Caitlin’s departure heralded the arrival of well known Scotland international and former Celt Abi Harrison, who joined the club until the end of the season having departed Championship side Bristol City the week previous. It will be hugely exciting to see what her experience and determination to score goals can bring to the side as the season progresses.

As the month drew to a close, there was another unexpected departure in Signe Carstens for whom personal reasons were cited and who goes with the good wishes of the support but who had not made enough of an impact in the side to cause much anxiety on a personnel level.  A looming fixture against Hearts, to whom we had suffered the first loss of the league season back in October, would be a chance to make up some games and start to move back up the league table. The opportunity to gain ground became even more tantalizing following Glasgow’s City’s defeat to Hibs the afternoon before the rescheduled game was played. A strong performance, especially in the first half  saw Celtic take all three points with four goals and a clean sheet, Daugherty having resumed her place between the sticks. One more January win against Queens Park would see Celtic caught up on games missed due to the Champions League schedule and join Glasgow City at the top of the table on points. The huge goal tally that would also see the goal difference against the league leaders matched or overtaken was not to be but victory on a freezing Wednesday evening in Stenhousemuir was absolutely forthcoming. 

A returning Murphy Agnew against Queens Park during the 6-0 victory

As we come to the end of what feels like a very long month, the squad and coaching staff will need a laser focus to maximise the benefits of more time on the training pitch as the fight at the top of the SWPL looks only set to intensify. We go into the next phase with an increased flexibility in terms of shape and tactics, new levels of experience in the squad and key players returning from injury. The final day of January also saw a final addition to the squad in the shape of Momo Nakao, a Japanese midfielder from the US college system who will hopefully bring the creativity in midfield that we have been calling for since the departure of Shen Mengyu last summer. If Celtic make the most of the advantages they have now potentially given themselves and use the quality in the squad to best effect then the next couple of months could get exciting…watch this space.

 

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