Brendan Rodgers sidestepped talking about Luis Palma’s long-term transfer future and role at Celtic but has clarified how he’ll fit into his plans ahead of January.
Palma has struggled for competitive game time this season. He’s made just a single start and appeared off the bench on three occasions.
However, having chosen to put his fight for a Celtic spot ahead of Honduras international duty during this current break, he was rewarded with a start in a friendly against Sligo Rovers on Wednesday night.
The winger impressed with a hat-trick, securing a 3-2 win for the Bhoys. In isolation, it wasn’t a result that meant a lot, but it was a nice confidence boost for the player nonetheless.
Now, Rodgers has suggested Palma will be getting more game time back in Scotland. Although it doesn’t sound as if he’ll be an established starter any time soon.
Brendan Rodgers shares how he’ll be using Luis Palma at Celtic
Speaking after beating Sligo Rovers, the Celtic manager said [Daily Record]: “It’s one of those ones where I think for all players, all players want to play. But I’m only really concentrating on this next period. We’ve got a really busy period until January. I know I’ll need all the players.
“We’ve just come off a game of a run there of seven games in 23 days and there’s going to be times where we’re playing every two or three days and we need that energy.
“Sometimes that won’t be there like we had against Ross County in the first half, but that will be the case in some other games.
“We need players to come off the bench, bring that energy and Luis is definitely one of those players that can do that for us.”
Celtic boss ‘really pleased’ for Palma after Sligo show
Rodgers is being realistic about the Honduran’s chances for match action but does sympathise with his situation.
Nicolas Kuhn has been in lightning form at the start of the season with six goals and eight assists. Daizen Maeda has also scored six, while offering his unique pressing and athletic abilities.
It’s a tough gig to be a Celtic winger outside of that pairing, which is something the manager acknowledges.
He continued: “I was really pleased for him the other night. He took his goals really well, especially the last two, where he really got into the areas at the second point where we want him to get into.
“He worked hard, but that’s not an area that there’s any doubt with. You have to do the work, but that was a nice exercise for him.
“He wanted to stay in the international break to get the work in and obviously playing this game and it’s been a nice reward for him.
“It’s just about not forcing it. I think sometimes the thing with wingers is, when other players are in the team and scoring and creating goals, you feel you really want to come in and force it a little bit. I think sometimes that’s what’s happened with Luis.
“He’s a very good technician, and when he plays for the team and works hard and presses well, then he can be a really good player.”
Make or break period for the Honduran winger at Celtic
This two to three-month period looks like it’s a make-or-break one for Palma.
If he can step up his game and impress with the minutes he gets, then there’s still a chance he can turn things around at the Bhoys. But the clock is ticking.
It doesn’t sound as if he’ll be content simply being a bench option, and that could see him make an exit less than two years after his arrival at the Bhoys.
Rodgers has made it pretty clear he prefers other options, and it will take a lot for the Honduran to convince him otherwise.
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