Brendan Rodgers is giving Celtic’s new Bhoys the time and space required to adjust to life in Glasgow, but is increasingly hopeful players such as Luis Palma can make a big impression at the club.
Palma signed for Celtic back in August but has had to remain patient for his first start in the Scottish Premiership. He was named in Rodgers’ eleven for Saturday’s match against Kilmarnock and there was keen intrigue about what he would offer.
The Honduran impressed, netting a wonderful goal and providing a significant goal threat throughout his time on the pitch before being substituted. It was a great step forward for him.
Rodgers described his display as ‘excellent’ to BBC Radio Scotland after the match, stating: “I’m not so judgemental about the players at this stage. He’s only in the door and sometimes you get to a club like this here and it takes that little bit of time to adapt.
“Especially coming in from a different tempo of game, different climate, different culture. You can’t expect players to come from the other side of the world and just drop into the team.
“But they’re adapting well, they’re understanding tactically what it is we want to do and they’re understanding the winning mentality you need at a club like this.
“I thought he was excellent today, he showed great quality and scored a very good goal. He will get better and better in time.”
Palma has given himself a great chance of retaining his place in the team after the upcoming international break, should he avoid injury on duty for his country.
Honduras have a double-header against Cuba over the next week or so and the attacker is likely to be heavily involved as one of their star players.
Hopefully he is injected with even more confidence ahead of his return to Scotland, where he could well find himself in another starting team – this time away to Hearts at Tynecastle.
In other news, Brendan Rodgers left unhappy and calls out VAR officials for strange decision at Celtic Park.
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