Maloney on Celtic working 'on key positions', left-back area, Sinisalo's challenge & Hatate future

Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney has been speaking to the media before Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Aberdeen. Here are the key points.

• Maloney says the Scottish champions are “really happy” with their four summer signings so far and “there’s some key positions that we still need a bit of work on in the next couple of days”.

• The assistant manager says “the profiles of what we need in those positions are really important, that we do replace what we’ve lost”, citing Arne Engels’ recent departure. “The club’s working really hard to give us those types of players,” Maloney added.

• “Some really key positions in the squad, you’re looking at three or four and if there’s anymore than that, that’ll be really, the thinking of the club will be for the future,” Maloney said.

• When asked about the possibility of a loan capture of teenage Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka, the assistant says, “it’s pretty difficult to talk about” prospective signings and “nothing’s confirmed with anyone”.

• With goalkeeper Sam Johnstone linked with a season-long loan at Celtic, Maloney says the message to first-choice Viljami Sinisalo is: “You have to keep performing at the levels you are to keep the shirt.”

• Celtic “hope” to sign another left-back to compete with Kieran Tierney, says the assistant manager.

• And Maloney revealed “it’s possible” Japan midfielder Reo Hatate could move on from the club.

• The assistant expects Wednesday’s game “to be a really tough game” and urges Celtic “to be more aggressive”, adding: “We want more without the ball.”

• Team news: striker Kasper Hogh and defender Tierney will “struggle” to be fit to face Aberdeen but could make the weekend while forward Callum Osmand faces “a few weeks” out with an ankle injury.

Maloney says the Scottish champions are “really happy” with their four summer signings so far and “there’s some key positions that we still need a bit of work on in the next couple of days”.

The assistant manager says “the profiles of what we need in those positions are really important, that we do replace what we’ve lost”, citing Arne Engels’ recent departure. “The club’s working really hard to give us those types of players,” Maloney added.

“Some really key positions in the squad, you’re looking at three or four and if there’s anymore than that, that’ll be really, the thinking of the club will be for the future,” Maloney said.

When asked about the possibility of a loan capture of teenage Chelsea forward Shim Mheuka, the assistant says, “it’s pretty difficult to talk about” prospective signings and “nothing’s confirmed with anyone”.

With goalkeeper Sam Johnstone linked with a season-long loan at Celtic, Maloney says the message to first-choice Viljami Sinisalo is: “You have to keep performing at the levels you are to keep the shirt.”

Celtic “hope” to sign another left-back to compete with Kieran Tierney, says the assistant manager.

And Maloney revealed “it’s possible” Japan midfielder Reo Hatate could move on from the club.

The assistant expects Wednesday’s game “to be a really tough game” and urges Celtic “to be more aggressive”, adding: “We want more without the ball.”

Team news: striker Kasper Hogh and defender Tierney will “struggle” to be fit to face Aberdeen but could make the weekend while forward Callum Osmand faces “a few weeks” out with an ankle injury.