Marian Shved’s lack of game time for Celtic this season has been a bit of a mystery. The winger came to Celtic with a big pedigree. He scored plenty of goals in the Ukraine league for Karpaty Lviv last season.
15 goals in 26 games is an excellent record for a player who is not a striker. However, he has rarely featured for Celtic this season.
He has played one game – against Nomme Kalju in the Champions League qualifiers – and he scored in that game as well – but since then he has not featured for the Hoops.
Player could have something to offer
However, the fact that he has been included in Celtic’s Europa League squad is a positive sign. It shows that Neil Lennon still feels that the player could have something to offer the Hoops in Europe.
Perhaps Shved’s absence is down to the fact that the Hoops have some wingers who have been in terrific form this season.
James Forrest and Mikey Johnston have been two of Celtic’s best players for Neil Lennon in recent weeks. However, it is a bit confusing that Shved hasn’t even been making the bench.
‘We’ll see more of him’
Neil Lennon did reveal a few week ago to Football Scotland that the player has to improve his ‘tempo and his work’ but that the club have a ‘good player on our hands, and we’ll see more of him as the season progresses.’
That does sound promising for the player. It seems that if he keeps working hard in training then he will eventually make his breakthrough for the Hoops.
Perhaps his performances in training are what has led to his inclusion in the Europa League squad. Only time will tell how often he actually features for Celtic in the competition. But it is good to see that he is still in the manager’s plans going forward.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
