Michel-Ange Balikwisha is letting everyone know how hard he is working ahead of pre-season.
It’s fair to say that Balikwisha has endured nothing short of a nightmare at Celtic, playing just 398 minutes this season, despite being fit throughout.
He remained unfancied by Brendan Rodgers, Wilfried Nancy and Martin O’Neill, a damning indictment on his £4.5 million acquisition from Royal Antwerp.
But if his social media pages are anything to go by, this has done little to his appetite.
If not, who is?
Michel-Ange Balikwisha shares footage of pre-season preparations
Wearing his Hoops training gear, Balikwisha is sharing footage of one-to-one coaching work during the off-season.
As one of the Celtic players not involved in international football in June, he will be due back for pre-season at Lennoxtown on June 26.
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In the eyes of most Celtic fans, his career in Glasgow is already over — he offered little encouragement across his brief appearances during his debut campaign.
After switching international allegiance to DR Congo last year, Balikwisha was left out of their World Cup squad despite scoring in the penalty shootout that took them to North America.
Balikwisha was chased by Celtic for over a year, with the club having decided against signing him in 2024 due to a poorly-timed injury.
It was widely reported that the 24-year-old was a key target for the club last summer, but the move wasn’t completed until the final week of the transfer window, after the Hoops’ disastrous Champions League qualifying exit.
He was thrown straight in for a start at Ibrox by Brendan Rodgers, playing 65 minutes in a goalless draw. This remains one of just three starts he has made for the club.
The last of those was against sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup, before which O’Neill discussed his situation.
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Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha
The Hoops boss said of the forward: “It must be difficult for him to come in at the time he did and not be getting starts.
“I thought Wilfried Nancy might have played him, but that’s everyone to their own. But we spent some money on Michel-Ange, it’s up to him now to try to do it.
“He hasn’t complained. He hasn’t done any of those particular things. Now there is an opportunity for him.
“He wasn’t in the squad for the game the other night, but he’ll participate on Sunday and give me an idea.
“I know it’s on the plastic surface, but even so it gives me an opportunity to have a look.”
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