Celtic’s pre-season plans hit a bump over the weekend.
Brendan Rodgers watched the Hoops lose to Estrela in Portugal, after picking up two wins from two in their opening matches.
It’s the normal procedure of pre-season, as the Celtic players build up their fitness, pick up where they left off, look to make a name for themselves or impress their new teammates.
A mix of senior pros, youngsters and new signings have featured, as more of the first team players are coming back after an extended break.
- READ MORE: ‘Expect the same outcome’ – Celtic fans blast defender after losing to Estrela da Amadora
Hayato Inamura praised for his actions in pre-season for Celtic
One man who has had an interesting impact after signing for Celtic is Hayato Inamura, after arriving from the J-League.
Frank McAvennie was critical of how some of the Celtic young guns aren’t taking their chance in pre-season and proving that they are good enough.
But speaking on his Let Me Be Frank podcast, he wanted to use Inamura as an example, and how he has changed Rodgers’ mind from ‘putting him out on loan’ to now ‘keeping him.’
“The players, who are coming in, what you have got to remember is, these boys are there, if you come in and you get a chance to play in the first team, and you don’t take it, that’s nobody else’s fault but yours,” said McAvennie.
“That’s no disrespect to some of the young kids. I think, if you get in there. That’s what I am talking about, people coming in and stamping their authority.
“It’s like the boy and the centre-half who has come in from the Japanese league. Brendan thought he was going to put him on loan.
“45 minutes (against Cork), and all of a sudden, he is keeping him! That’s the kind of thing you have got to do. Make your effect as a player.”
When are Celtic next in action in pre-season?
As much as Inamura looked impressive against Cork, fans can’t go overboard because it can change pretty quickly.
Celtic have some interesting pre-season games coming up, and possibly their toughest tests of the summer so far.
It’s another chance for Inamura to prove that he should stay at the club for the new season rather than sending him out on loan.
- Sporting CP vs Celtic, July 16, 19:30 BST, Faro, Portugal
- Celtic vs Newcastle United, July 19, 15:00 BST, Glasgow, Scotland
- Ajax vs Celtic, July 24, 19:30 BST, Como, Italy
- Como Cup Third Place Play-Off or Como Cup Final, July 26/27, Como, Italy
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
