Schmeichel’s Injury Came at the Right Time
Kasper Schmeichel’s recent injury on international duty may not have derailed Celtic’s season—given the title was already wrapped up—but it has opened up a bigger question for Brendan Rodgers. Has his absence accidentally revealed the club’s next long-term No.1?
Sinisalo Steps Up When It Matters
In stepped Viljami Sinisalo. The 23-year-old Finn has quietly impressed during his run in the side, keeping three clean sheets in his six appearances and conceding just three goals. He hasn’t let in more than one in any match, with Celtic sealing their fourth straight league title and reaching yet another Scottish Cup final in the process.
His latest outing? A calm and collected performance in the 1–1 draw at Ibrox—ending Celtic’s losing run against Rangers and helping steady a makeshift backline.
That sort of composure under pressure won’t go unnoticed by Rodgers.
Schmeichel’s Numbers Are Hard to Ignore
Of course, Schmeichel is still Celtic’s No.1. The veteran joined from Nice last summer to take over from Joe Hart and, despite some murmurs about his fitness and shot stopping down low, he’s delivered. Nineteen clean sheets from 30 league games speaks for itself. That’s a 63.3% clean sheet rate—up from Hart’s 40.5% last season. It’s a major upgrade and, on paper, puts him comfortably ahead of his nearest competitors, Rangers’ Jack Butland and Dundee United’s Jack Walton.
But There Have Been Slip-Ups
Still, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. There was that costly pass-back blunder against Brugge in Europe. Seven goals shipped in Dortmund. Nine conceded in three Old Firm games. For all Schmeichel’s experience, he’s had some glaring moments to forget—more goals let in by him against Rangers in three games than Hart allowed in his entire three-year stint in Glasgow. That’s where Sinisalo has turned heads. He looked assured in his Old Firm debut, handling the pressure well—despite being behind a defence missing Alistair Johnston.
Looking to the Future
At 38, Schmeichel isn’t a long-term option. He’s also entering the final year of his deal. So, what next? Sinisalo could be the answer. He’s already a full Finland international, competing with Lukas Hradecky for the No.1 shirt. He was brought in last summer from Aston Villa for around £1m—not exactly small money for a backup in Scotland—and Rodgers showed faith in him early, giving him minutes in the Scottish Cup against Raith Rovers and favouring him over Scott Bain during Schmeichel’s layoff.
Cup Final Could Be a Defining Moment
Next up: the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen. Should Sinisalo shine on the big stage, he could give Rodgers a real dilemma. It’s unlikely he’ll take the starting role from Schmeichel immediately, but next season could be a transitional one. A bit of rotation, a bit of planning ahead—and maybe, just maybe, the Hoops already have their next No.1 in-house.
