ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has not kicked a ball in competitive action since an 11-minute cameo for Besiktas in their 4-1 Super League victory over Adana Demirspor on May 11 last year.
The game and result didn’t matter a jot with Galatasaray already crowned Turkish champions while Besiktas, in fourth place 33 points adrift, were among those who watched as the leaders disappeared out of sight.
Exactly eight months ago, Oxlade-Chamberlain had hardly warmed up when he summoned to the bench he wasn’t fit to continue.
Thirteen weeks later, the former England international midfielder and the club agreed to part company with a year still to run on his contract. A compensation fee of £1.5million was reported.
TAKE A BOW…Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain acknowledges the Celtic fans before Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 Scottish Cup extra-time triumph over Dundee at Parkhead.
Since that fateful day in May, the 32-year-old one-time Arsenal and Liverpool star has attempted to maintain fitness levels while training with the youths at his old London club.
Interestingly, manager Mikel Arteta never sought to engage the services of his former team-mate, despite his free agent status.
So, with all that in mind, it would be mission impossible to expect Oxlade-Chamberlain to light up the sky in the east end of Glasgow this evening if Martin O’Neill hands him an outing against a Livingston side rooted to the bottom of the league without a win in 25 games.
In such circumstances, some gaffers may be tempted to throw in a player to see if he sinks or swims, but the crafty 73-year-old Irishman, not recognised for playing fast and loose with team selections, will know the precise moment to introduce the player.
He will be more than aware there is not a chance Oxlade-Chamberlain can even be remotely matchfit.
At the peak of his powers, the midfielder was a formidable, all-action performer always eager to engage the opposition. Jurgen Klopp was more than delighted to shell out £35million to prise him away from the Gunners in the summer of 2017 and never had any reason to complain about not getting value for his buck.
TURKISH DESPAIR…Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain quit Super League club Besiktas with a year still to run on his contract.
But that was then and this is now. Oxlade-Chamberlain is a different animal today compared to the player of nine years ago, an operator gifted with skills to terrorise the opposition and bring rivals to their knees.
He may hit the ground running at the champions. Who knows? It’s certainly an energising thought.
Alas, realism has the nasty habit of disturbing fantasy.
The beautiful game, though, has offered a platform for the most unlikely deeds and Celtic fans only need to look back to November 1998 and the arrival of a 33-year-old midfielder who, despite earning over 70 caps for Czechoslovakia and Slovakia, was an unknown quantity to many.
It didn’t prevent Lubomir Moravcik from becoming an instant fans’ favourite and going on to earn cult hero status before departing four years later.
Can lightning strike twice in the same place?
It’s unfair to anticipate Oxlade-Chamberlain emulating Moravcik, but they haven’t yet got around to taxing illusions.
We can always dream.
So, too, can Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and he’s the guy with the desire and capabilities to make it happen.
ALEX GORDON
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Livingston tonight – only in your champion CQN.
