David Martindale paid tribute to Celtic at his press conference this week.
On Thursday, it was reported that Livingston are set to sign Mitchell Robertson from Celtic, with the youngster having impressed on loan at Inverness.
But that wouldn’t have been the first deal between the clubs this season.
Martin O’Neill has recalled Stephen Welsh from Motherwell, after he earned rave reviews during his six months at Fir Park.
But another Hoops defender, who was on loan with Martindale, has not been so fortunate this season, despite a promising start.
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David Martindale pays tribute to Celtic after loan decision
It’s been a tough season for Martindale and Livi, and they currently sit eight points adrift of guaranteed safety in the Premiership.
But it could’ve been easier with the help of Adam Montgomery, whom they took on loan in the summer.
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Montgomery was injured in a game at Easter Road in October, having started every match of the league season prior to that.
He has now been recalled by Celtic, allowing Livingston the funds to get a replacement – Martindale was eager to voice his appreciation for this.
He said: “It’s bad news with Adam. He’s been re-injured and that’s probably his season over.
“He’s been at Celtic doing his rehab and coming here a day a week to keep him in and around the group.
“But he’s suffered a setback and it’s a very similar injury to the one he picked up at Easter Road that put him out in the first place.
“There are two or three muscles within the calf impacted and I’m gutted for him. He was fantastic for us, but Celtic have been phenomenal and it’s a massive thank you to Shaun Maloney, Stephen McManus and Chris McCart.
“He’ll probably be out another 16 weeks, but they have agreed to terminate the agreement. That has freed up the finances for us to go and find something else.
“They didn’t have to do that and that shows the class of Celtic.”
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Celtic’s players out on loan
Welsh and Montgomery aren’t the only ones to have returned from their loans – Odin Thiago Holm and Tobi Oluwayemi have also concluded loans at LAFC and Kilmarnock respectively.
Luis Palma is on his winter break with Lech Poznan, with the Polish side potentially being priced out of a permanent move for the Honduran, according to recent reports.
It’s been over a month since Maik Nawrocki was available for Hannover 96; the Polish defender had impressed for the Germans until sustaining a muscle injury.
Kyle Ure, Jude Bonnar and Ben McPherson are among the Hoops youngsters out on loan in the Scottish Championship.
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