It wasn’t a massive surprise when Boli Bolingoli was left out of the Celtic squad for the Europa League in the summer.
After all, here was a player who didn’t look to have much chance of making an impact in the Hoops ever again. Some supporters just couldn’t forgive his act of folly in 2020, which saw him cut loose by the club on loan for a season.
How times change. Here we are just a few months after that Europa League snub. Everyone’s asking why, after some impressive domestic showings and an injury to Greg Taylor, Bolingoli doesn’t make the starting XI in Europe for Celtic.
Furthermore, folk are asking when we can next use him in European competition.
The answer’s surprisingly simple, and has ramifications in the transfer market, too. In Article 46 of the UEFA Europa League regulations, it says that clubs can register a maximum of three eligible players by the 2nd of February.
So, if Boli Bolingoli is in the first-team picture by the winter, and Celtic finish third or better in their Europa League group, he can play in Europe for us this season.
The registration rules apply to all three of the top European competitions; the Champions League, Europa League and the new Europa Conference. If Celtic finish third in their group, it’ll be the latter we find ourselves in.
So, it means Boli Bolingoli and two new signings could be in Celtic’s squad come the next round of European competition.
Boli Bolingoli has time to show he can make Celtic impact
Who’d have thought it, eh? A clamour for Boli Bolingoli to start for us in Europe.
While Adam Montgomery by no means disgraced himself against Ferencvaros, he still looks a little raw, albeit talented. He needs time, and experience. Without Greg Taylor in the team, and Liam Scales not being fancied quite yet, it’s his position to lose, though. In Europe, at least.
It would’ve been hard to imagine the lack of Bolingoli being a source of frustration in months prior. Whatever you think of the moralising about him, it was forgotten that he was a decent enough left-back for Celtic. Not amazing, not Kieran Tierney, but more than serviceable.
In fact, he was genuinely impressive in Europa League action. In 4 appearances during 19-20, he averaged over 3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions a game [WhoScored?]. That’s really impressive for a full-back.
More than that, he was always willing to carry the ball, and attempt killer passes from either the flank, or further deep. In some ways, he acted as a proto-inverted-full-back before we even really knew what that meant.
He’s certainly not a bad player. And there’s a strong chance he’ll be the number 1 choice by the time UEFA registration re-opens.
Read more: Scott Robertson enjoying Crewe but sounds ready to make Celtic impact
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