Paulo Bernardo had started just two Scottish Premiership games before the home win over Livingston just before Christmas.
The on-loan midfielder from Benfica was in and out of the fray and perhaps wasn’t truly given a chance to show what he is clearly made of.
Brendan Rodgers opted for the likes of David Turnbull and Tomoki Iwata at times instead of Bernardo. But now, the Northern Irishman will find it hard to drop the Portuguese star after his recent form.
Bernardo has now started the last four league games over the festive period and has been arguably Celtic’s best player.
He netted in consecutive games against Dundee and Rangers – the derby strike won’t be forgotten in a hurry – before notching two brilliant assists against St Mirren on 2 January.
That’s four goal contributions in four for the burgeoning central midfielder and pundit Mark Wilson, when speaking to the Open Goal podcast, is absolutely loving what he’s seeing.
Paulo Bernardo initially copped scepticism
Former Celtic defender Wilson has changed his tune regarding Bernardo, though. Initially the pundit wasn’t too keen on him, particularly when featuring in the Champions League games.
But now, Wilson admits his opinion of Bernardo has changed for the better. Wilson said: “I wasn’t having him. He played in big games but I just didn’t see him do anything.
“He would run about, hardly get involved or hardly get a touch of the ball. He wouldn’t tackle and you’d see him almost get close to somebody, it almost looked like he was running on treacle.
“But the game at Dens Park, he looked like a player. He gets his goal, maybe a wee bit fortuitous. But after that he’s been great, he’s been brilliant.
“The second one (assist) for Greg Taylor (against St Mirren) was incredible. Rodgers must have not been sure of him as well because he had the opportunity to play him in games.
“He had Turnbull in there, he would play Iwata in there and play McGregor up and then he’d play Bernardo. So it was kind of a revolving door between the three of them.
“But the unfortunate thing for Bernardo now his that Hatate is back fit. After the break, if Hatate is still at the club, he has got to go back in.
“Bernardo will come out so he’s unfortunate that the break has came at the wrong time for him.”
Wilson, like everyone else of a Celtic persuasion, is absolutely loving what Bernardo is producing now for the Hoops.
But the pundit does make a valid point regarding the comeback of Reo Hatate from the treatment room. The Japanese star is likely to regain his place after the winter break in midfield.
However, on the evidence of the Portuguese star’s current form, Rodgers really doesn’t have too much of a reason to bench him regularly again.
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