How Maik Nawrocki fared on his Hannover 96 debut, as Dane Murray suffers a Celtic nightmare

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Celtic’s centre-backs have been the talk of the town recently, and not for the right reasons.

It started with Cameron Carter-Vickers’ injury last Thursday in the Europa League, which is set to keep him out of action for large parts of the season.

Then, Dane Murray followed it up by producing a howler of a performance as Celtic were beaten at Hearts to go eight points behind the leaders in the Premiership table.

But whilst Brendan Rodgers ponders over his centre-backs, Maik Nawrocki is now finally seeing some light on loan at Hannover 96.

• READ MORE: Tam McManus left shocked by one Celtic moment against Hearts

Maik Nawrocki helps Hannover 96 beat Eintracht Braunschweig in derby encounter

Nawrocki joined Hannover 96, who are in Germany’s second-tier, in the summer on a loan deal until the end of the season.

But injury has meant that the Polish star has been restricted to a behind-closed-doors friendly match, as well as representing Hannover 96’s reserve side, up until Sunday.

Whilst Celtic were losing to Hearts, Nawrocki started in a back three and played an hour as his team secured a comfortable derby day victory over Eintracht Braunschweig.

It puts Hannover 96 fourth in Bundesliga 2, four points behind leaders Schalke, and two points clear of the play-off places.

• Nawrocki’s minutes for Hannover 96: 58
• Interceptions: 2
• Clearances: 1
• Recoveries: 6
• Ground duels won: 1/1
• Aerial duels won: 3/3
• Dribbled past: 0
• Key Passes: 1
• Passes in opposition half: 30/33
• Touches: 73
• Sofascore rating: 7.2

Should Celtic recall Nawrocki amid Dane Murray’s nightmare at Hearts

It’s never going to happen because Rodgers hardly used Nawrocki when he was at Celtic, and it clearly feels that he was another club signing the manager simply doesn’t fancy.

But saying that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if many Celtic fans would prefer Nawrocki over Murray, because that was a game to forget at Tynecastle.

Rodgers does have Auston Trusty as another option, but will he play two left-footed centre-backs at the heart of defence? Either way, with the League Cup semi-final on the horizon, a decision needs to be made.