Celtic winger Marian Shved back in Mechelen squad after brutal putdown

By David Walton

December 14, 2020

Marian Shved was on Saturday called back up to the Mechelen squad for their game against Waasland-Beveren despite a brutal putdown from his manager last week.

The Celtic youngster, who’s spending the season with the Belgian side on loan, has had a terrible year so far. Shved has only played 54 minutes out of 14 possible games for Mechelen, as he continues to disappoint with his loan side.

Last week, Mechelen manager Wouter Vrancken brutally slammed Shved’s lack of a contribution this season, stating that the Ukrainian had an application problem and that there was no point wasting time with him.

As quoted by the Daily Record, Vrancken said: “I don’t feel like I should be wasting my time on him anymore. The players and staff have done everything they can to include Shved in the squad, but he puts himself above the group.

“He regularly arrives late and even pretends not to be here. The staff and the players have talked to him several times. I spoke to him in private, I also addressed him in the group. But we haven’t got a response.

“Well, it stops now. If he wants to be a loner, he can. Go play billiards for the rest of his life or something.”

Shved being considered once again

It looked last week as though his Mechelen career was more or less over, but that doesn’t look like it’s the case just yet. Despite Vrancken claiming that he shouldn’t be wasting his time on Shved anymore, he brought him back into the squad for Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat.

Granted, it wasn’t the result Mechelen wanted and Shved remained on the bench as an unused substitute. But something must have gone right over the last week for Vrancken to change his mind and put him in the squad.

Perhaps Shved has finally realised the error of his ways and is now looking to put the extra effort in to try and get himself back playing regularly once again. Make no mistake, that’s the only way he’ll ever have a Celtic career again.

Celtic winger Marian Shved / (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group via Getty Images)

So far he’s yet to register a single goal or assist, but it’s hardly surprising when you listen to his manager’s comments. He’s in Belgium to make himself a standout and to prove that he’s too good for Mechelen’s level. He’s struggling to do that, and time will be running out for him soon also.

But thankfully it looks as though things aren’t quite too late just yet. Shved has been offered a reprieve with his matchday spot on Saturday after two games without making the squad.

Mechelen now have a home clash against Club Brugge followed by a trip to Leuven in the Belgian Pro League. Vrancken is going to have to use his squad, and these are the moments Shved should be barging his door down over.

The next few weeks are going to be crucial in both Shved’s Mechelen and Celtic career. Hopefully, his reintroduction to matchday proceedings was the boost he needed.

In other news, a European manager has stated that signing this Celtic man in January would be a “huge blessing”.