MAIK NAWROCKI would be forgiven if he has gone through this season in a state of perpetual puzzlement.
And no one can blame the £4.3million defender if that is the case.
Nawrocki made his first appearance in the Premiership in this campaign against Barry Ferguson’s Ibrox outfit just 26 days ago when he was brought out of cold storage to answer Brendan Rodgers’ SOS.
With Auston Trusty and Liam Scales unavailable, the Hoops boss was forced to turn to the 24-year-old centre-back who had played a mere 23 minutes of Cup football against Falkirk and Raith Rovers before being catapulted into the back four.
The history books will show a dismal 3-2 loss, but they will fail to inform anyone that Nawrocki was by far the hosts’ best defensive performer with Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jeffrey Schlupp distressingly way below expectation levels.
ON GUARD…Maik Nawrocki, flanked by Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jeffrey Schlupp, is in central position as he prepares to deal with a corner-kick in the derby at Parkhead.
The German-born former Poland Under-21 international was a shoo-in for the following game, a 3-0 win over Hearts at the same venue and, once again, he produced a highly competent display.
Last weekend, though, Nawrocki was bewilderingly back among the substitutes with Trusty returning to partner Carter-Vickers against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
And the big-money recruit from Legia Warsaw in July 2023 remained on the bench throughout, despite the champions’ insipid show against rock-bottom opposition who scored in only four minutes following the Hoops defence’s chronic inability to deal with a set play.
Three times in the opening period, Saints players got free headers at Viljami Sinisalo’s goal following deadball kicks from ex-Celtic prospect Graham Carey. Two efforts flew over the bar, the other, alas, found its way past the Finnish keeper for the only goal of a disconcerting outing in Perth.
Before the match, Rodgers explained the thinking behind the return of Trusty when he said: “I think over a period of time Auston has done well.”
ON THE BALL…Auston Trusty surges into attack.
The team chief added: “I think it’s a big credit to Maik because he hadn’t played in a long time leading into the Rangers game, so it shows you his professionalism that he came into that game and against Hearts, he didn’t put a foot wrong.
“But I prefer to have a left-sided player on that side of the pitch.”
In an ideal world, you would look for a balance between your two central defenders. That make sense. But this is far from an ideal world.
Far be it for your humble scribe to pick holes in statements from the Celtic manager, but I don’t think I am alone in thinking Trusty has yet to completely convince since his August deadline day arrival from Sheffield United.
That’s the same Sheffield United who hurtled out of the Premier League after conceding 104 goals in 38 games. Naturally, that cannot be blamed on a centre-back who performed in 25 of those matches during a catastrophic campaign for the Yorkshire club.
Someone at Celtic – possibly Paul Tisdale who was appointed as the club’s Head of Football Operations six weeks after the summer transfer business had been concluded – saw enough in Trusty to urge the champions to pay £6million for his services.
The player looks the part, that’s for sure, but as Chris Sutton stated in CQN earlier today: “I look at Auston Trusty and he gives the impression he thinks he’s a player.
“That’s fine if you back it up, but you can’t waltz around and get too casual. You need to be on it – every week.”
Trusty still has quite a way to go before we are all singing from the same hymn sheet.
OOPS…Auston Trusty turns his back in time to see Luke Armstrong’s drive fly into the Celtic net for Motherwell’s equaliser at Fir Park.
I’ve noticed some alarming moments of concentration lapses since he replaced Liam Scales at the back end of September.
One that springs to mind came in the Premiership tussle at Fir Park in February with Daizen Maeda’s early goal giving the visitors the advantage. However, a mistake from Trusty allowed Motherwell back into the contest in 23rd minute.
He dozed off as a left-wing cross dropped into the box. It was missed by Carter-Vickers and his rearguard sidekick must have anticipated his fellow-USA international clearing the danger.
The ball bounced off his shins straight to to Luke Armstrong who thrashed an unstoppable first-time drive beyond the startled Kasper Schmeichel. Thankfully, the champions fought back to clinch a 3-1 victory and the focus of attention afterwards centred on comeback Bhoy Filipe Jota who claimed the decisive third goal.
Trusty’s error was overlooked amid the accolades for the Portuguese maverick.
There was a similar eye-off-the-ball moment at Pittodrie on December 4 when the defender once again failed to deal with a cross from the left. The ball broke off him to set up an ideal shooting opportunity for the lurking Ester Sokler about 10 yards from goal.
Only a remarkable last-ditch intervention from Carter-Vickers prevented a late equaliser with the Hoops desperately clinging onto a Reo Hatate strike. The former Spurs player launched himself in front of the Dons striker and deflected the ball over the bar.
Nine days later, Trusty was removed from the action at the interval during the Premier Sports League Cup Final with Rangers leading 1-0. Scales came on in his place and the Parkhead men eventually claimed the trophy following a dramatic 5-4 success in the penalty-kick shoot-out.
Once more, the substitution of Trusty hardly rated a mention in the aftermath of the first piece of silverware heading across the city.
HEADING FOR TROUBLE…Aaron Donnelly beats Auston Trusty to a left-wing corner-kick to power in Dundee’s third goal in the 3-3 draw at Dens Park.
And there was a clear lack of physicality and awareness when Aaron Donnelly was allowed to leap to a left-wing corner-kick to head Dundee into a 3-2 lead 12 minutes from time at Dens Park in mid-January. Fortunately, Arne Engels stroked in a stoppage-time spot-kick to give the visitors a point.
I stress this is not a witch-hunt and I do believe the Pennsylvanian may have a future at Celtic once he fully adapts to the Scottish game. I haven’t seen too much evidence of that so far.
And certainly not in Perth last weekend when Jota cut a figure of frustration with his team-mate’s lack of a speedy delivery when openings were presented on the left flank.
I have a couple of questions for Brendan Rodgers. Does he believe Trusty did enough against the Saints to keep his position against Kilmarnock tomorrow?
Or is there an opportunity for Nawrocki to pick up where he left off against Hearts?
All will be revealed tomorrow morning.
ALEX GORDON
