Billy Dodds says Celtic star has ‘disappeared’ after producing ‘big career’ Champions League displays

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Celtic fans haven’t taken too kindly to the club not qualifying for this season’s Champions League.

It makes fans even more frustrated that Celtic improved on Europe’s biggest stage last term, only to book themselves a ticket in the Europa League this time around.

There were many top performers for Brendan Rodgers’ side, but Billy Dodds thinks there was one player, not just last season, but in recent times, that has impressed him in the Champions League, and that’s Paulo Bernardo.

Celtic’s biggest strength and depth in quality might be in the middle of the park, but Bernardo can’t seem to get a run out anymore.

• READ MORE: Celtic fans make their feelings clear about Paulo Bernardo after draw vs Hibernian

Paulo Bernardo ‘disappearing ‘ from the Celtic team

There could be the argument that captain Callum McGregor, the maestro Reo Hatate, Celtic’s club-record transfer Arne Engels, boyhood fan Luke McCowan, and summer signing Benjamin Nygren are all ahead of Bernardo in the pecking order.

This is despite someone like Dodds stating that he thought the Portuguese star would go on to have a ‘big career’ after watching him in the Champions League.

Of course, that can still happen, but Dodds told Go Radio that Bernardo has just ‘disappeared’ out of the Celtic side.

“I don’t see Celtic a lot,” shared Dodds. “But when I saw Bernardo playing in the Champions League, I thought, ‘you are a good player, son. You are young and are going to have a big career ahead of you.’

“He just seems to kind of disappear out of the team. Every time he comes on, you are worried about him.

“Brendan Rodgers did say, and correct me if I am wrong, that ‘Nygren is more of a goal threat than Bernardo.’ That’s his reason.”

Celtic’s back-up midfielders will start to become ‘disillusioned’

This is Bernardo’s third season at Celtic, and his second as a permanent player, as you question what will happen if his minutes don’t improve.

Dodds thinks there is ‘healthy competition’ in Celtic’s midfield, but fears some bench players might become ‘disillusioned’ because they don’t get enough game time.

“But I think they have got to change something if it continues,” added Dodds. “They have had a quiet start.

“You can’t keep going, same, same. And with the other midfielders, there is healthy competition in there. The other midfielders will start being disillusioned if they don’t get a shot at it, at some point.”