It’s safe to say Nat Phillips’ time at Celtic Park was pretty forgettable.
Brendan Rodgers signed the 26-year-old from Liverpool at the end of the summer 2023 transfer window as a result of the injuries to a number of centre-backs at the club.
They included Maik Nawrocki, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Stephen Welsh so Rodgers returned to his former club to capture Phillips on loan and ease the squad’s defensive ailments.
Rodgers was delighted with the signing but unfortunately for him and Phillips, the move did not work out as planned.
The Englishman was in and out of the side as Celtic fans simply did not warm to him at all. He played just six Premiership games this season for the Hoops – three of which were starts – culminating in his dreadful performance against Kilmarnock in December.
Celtic lost the fixture 2-1 at Rugby Park and Philipps netted an own goal that sparked Killie’s comeback on the day. It summed up his short stint in green and white and now, he is back at Liverpool after the loan came to an end.
Nat Phillips message to Celtic fans
That was confirmed at the start of January and Phillips has now taken to social media after returning to Liverpool training to issue Celtic supporters a message.
He uploaded on Instagram and accompanied a picture of the Hoops huddle with this: “It was a pleasure and a privilege to represent @celticfc and their supporters.
“I wish everyone at the club all the best for the rest of the season and the future 🍀💚”.
It’s certainly a classy message to depart with but in all honesty, Celtic fans will be pleased to see the back of Phillips.
Plenty of ex-Celtic players and pundits chastised his performances for the champions this season, with John Hartson labelling him a “disgrace.”
Scott Brown and James McFadden also had their say on Phillips, who goes back to Liverpool knowing he could have represented Celtic way better than he should have.
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