Celtic attacker Luis Palma had another good performance as his rise in the game continues.
It’s been a hectic few months for the 23-year-old as he got his big break at club level, moving from Aris Thessaloniki to Celtic in the summer.
The international scene hasn’t exactly been quiet either, with a number of trips to Honduras and beyond required as they plot qualification for next year’s Copa América.
Things are looking half-decent in that regard after they thumped Cuba 4-0 on Monday. Palma didn’t score in the game, but he did set up the opening goal after typically cutting in from the left and delivering a cross.
He has done that for both of his Celtic goals so far, as well as the disallowed one against Lazio in the UEFA Champions League.
Palma was asked about that and a few other things as he spoke to the media in Honduras shortly before boarding a flight back to Europe.
“I did like five celebrations because you never know one,” he said of the Lazio strike to local outlet Diez.
“It was wonderful. I can say that I have tried the honey of the Champions League, but, unfortunately, it was annulled. I will continue working and striving. There are still four games left.
“I would like to beat Atlético de Madrid. I admire Cholo [Diego] Simeone’s football, so it will be a difficult game but we will do our best to get the victory.
“I am working every day to give my best as a player and help the national team when it is required.
“There are those who come down from the clouds, so, I try to be the same person, to be calm, to maintain the humility that I have always had.”
While some of the quotes there are a little strange having been translated from Spanish, you get the general idea of what Palma is feeling. He is riding the crest of a wave at present, and after Honduras, Celtic are now set to benefit.
We’ve not actually seen a great deal of the winger so far.. He has still only started two games for us, and that last Kilmarnock match was the first time he’s managed to play more than 60 minutes.
For that lack of game time, he’s made a pretty large impression. With 150 international minutes under his belt during this break, surely he will be right into the starting line-up for Tynecastle on Sunday.
We can’t wait to see him playing in that one.
In other news, Philippe Clement addresses big gap between Celtic and Rangers
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