Brendan Rodgers has provided Celtic supporters with an update on summer signing Marco Tilio, who is yet to make his debut for the Bhoys.
Tilio is the most expensive A-League export in history, joining from Melbourne City during the last transfer window. There’s been keen intrigue about what he can offer.
Sadly, an initial injury issue and fitness problems have hampered his progress. Rodgers reckons he’s found the transition to the Scottish champions difficult, but there are signs of progress.
Marco Tilio ‘starting to find his feet’ at Celtic
The Celtic boss said in a press conference today [Celtic FC]: “It’s just time. I think he will admit it himself, it’s been a really, really hard transition for him. Just the intensity of the game is totally different to what he’s been used to, so it’s been a challenge for him in training.
“It’s always difficult when you’re a new player coming into a new club and then you’re injured through pre-season and into September. He’s starting to find his feet now in the last three to four weeks.
“It’s going to take him more time, but I’m not in any big rush for Marco. I think he’ll bring himself into the team as quickly as he can produce. But he’s adapting, it’s taken a wee bit longer for him just purely because of the intensity of the game – it’s totally different to where he’s come from.”
With Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma available, Rodgers does have strong starting options on the wing. Hyunjun Yang is clearly ahead of Tilio in the pecking order, too.
It sounds like Tilio still has to prove himself in training sessions before thinking about getting any competitive minutes under his belt.
If he isn’t close to featuring by the time January rolls around, it may even be worth loaning him out to another Premiership side on a short-term basis to help him adjust to what is expected of him in Scotland.
In other news, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers’ classy move after being named Premiership Manager of the Month.
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