It’s not been the best of seasons for Celtic winger Luis Palma as he struggles to break into Brendan Rodgers’ team.
Palma has spent a lot of time on Celtic’s bench as the form of Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and James Forrest keeps the Honduran out of the team.
However, as Celtic’s players embarked on another international break Palma found himself in the Honduras starting lineup for the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals against Mexico.
Palma stepped up and put Mexico to the sword in the first leg after the Celtic winger scored a double to take a 2-0 win into the second leg at the Estadio Azteca in the early hours of this morning.
However, Honduras collapsed to a 4-0 defeat to Mexico as Palma and his teammates crashed out of the Nations League.
Undeterred, the Celtic winger reacted to the loss and made a vow that will please the Hoops’ support as the Parkhead club heads into a crucial period of the fixture calendar.
Luis Palma’s Celtic vow after Honduras suffers humiliating defeat vs Mexico
Palma told Deportes TVC, “Well, I don’t know if they said it but they’re right, the height was heavy but, as I said, it’s not an excuse. We had to play an intelligent game and we didn’t.
“We’ll keep working and look for the mistakes in this game to continue to work. It’s very hard to lose. No one likes it.
“We are hurt as a group but we have to move forward. There are many play-off games coming to go to the World Cup.
“We are aware of what we stopped doing and what we can do.”
When asked if he is going to work hard to win his place back at Celtic to make an impact for Honduras, Palma said, “Yes. Work, there is no choice but to work and to keep looking for opportunity.”
Three fixtures Luis Palma is likely to get a chance at Celtic before Rangers New Year Derby
Palma has made just seven appearances for Celtic this season and the time he has had on the pitch hasn’t produced anything of now for the Hoops winger.
However, if Palma does work hard there are three games where the Honduran international could get his chance before the big New Year Glasgow Derby in January.
- Saturday 30th November: Celtic vs Ross County
The Saturday after the Champions League tie against Club Brugge, Brendan Rodgers is likely to rest Kuhn or Maeda for the big game against Aberdeen on the 4th which could present an opportunity for Palma.
- Saturday 7th December: Celtic vs Hibs
Three days after Celtic travel to Aberdeen, Rodgers could look to give Palma a start and rest his two main wingers before the Champions League away tie to Dinamo Zagreb.
- Sunday 29th December: Celtic vs St Johnstone
Sandwiched between two tough games against Motherwell (26th) and Rangers (2nd of January) the Celtic squad will be tested as Rodgers looks to keep his top players fresh for the big Ibrox clash.
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