Celtic revealed on Friday that Andrew Gutman had joined Charlotte Independence on loan for a season. Gutman joined the Hoops in January on a three-and-a-half year deal, alongside fellow American Manny Perez.
The player lacks experience, and can be considered as one for the future. A loan move could be the set-up for future success in Glasgow.
Gutman is a left-back, and being honest, he has little to no chance of displacing Kieran Tierney or even Jonny Hayes in the Hoops side.
He needs game time
Therefore, he needs game time. It will benefit him to be teaming up with former Hoops coach Jim McGuinness, who manages Charlotte, rather than playing for the Hoops reserves.
Of course, there is a worry that the standard of football he will be playing in America might not be that great.
Standard could be lower than in Scotland
Charlotte Independence are in the second tier of American football, the USL Championship. That could well be a standard far lower than the Scottish Premiership.
Still, if Brendan Rodgers thinks it is the right club to send Gutman to then he has earned the right to come to that decision.
The Hoops will be hoping that by the time Gutman returns from his year in the States, he is more than ready to make his first-team breakthrough for the Hoops.
That is why the move makes sense for both the Hoops and the player. But only time will tell if he is able to succeed in Glasgow.
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