Maik Nawrocki’s Celtic story certainly has been a strange one.
From Celtic’s most expensive summer transfer of 2023 to bench warmer, Nawrocki’s future at the club under Brendan Rodgers looked shaky, at best.
However, a mini injury crisis saw the Polish defender be given a chance in the Glasgow Derby defeat to Rangers and Nawrocki was really one of only a few Celtic players who got passmarks that day.
Clearly Nawrocki did enough to impress Rodgers as he was given the nod for Celtic’s starting XI against Hearts yesterday, or did he?
- READ MORE: What Celtic really said about Maik Nawrocki as Legia Warsaw’s ex-boss lifts lid on scout reports
Brendan Rodgers gives Maik Nawrocki ‘huge credit’ at Celtic
Speaking before kick-off, Rodgers talked up Nawrocki as the Celtic manager shared how the former Legia Warsaw stopper has been impressing behind the scenes at Lennoxtown.
Rodgers told BBC Radio Scotland, “Listen, that’s always the question mark for all players. I think people forget that you can only play 11 players.
“For a lot of our season, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Liam Scales have been outstanding. So, it’s been very, very hard for Maik.
“What you’ve got to give him huge credit for is every single day in training his mentality to work, his endeavour, the responsibility he’s taken to work and be the best he can be.
“What you’ve got to give him huge credit for is every single day in training his mentality to work, his endeavour, the responsibility he’s taken to work and be the best he can be.
“So, if the opportunity comes and he has to come into a game like the Rangers game and perform like he did, that’s a real testament to his professionalism and his mentality. He’s done really well, he’s had a couple of weeks, and then we will see.”
Why Brendan Rodgers started Maik Nawrocki for Celtic vs Hearts
So after that big buildup it’s fair to assume that that is why Nawrocki was given the starting slot for Celtic’s win over Hearts, right?
Maybe not as Rodgers continued, “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty, because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.
“But Scalesy can’t play and Auston isn’t quite ready yet. I’ve got no problems playing Maik.”
Rodgers has no problems playing Maik but it did sound like that if either Scales or Trusty were available and fully fit, they possibly could have started against Neil Critchley’s side.
Many fans will be delighted that Nawrocki got the nod as they have been keen to see what he can offer the team.
Has the Celtic defender done enough to keep his starting place ahead of Trusty or Scales for the St Johnstone fixture next week? Only time will tell.
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