SEAD HAKSABANOVIC’S Instagram post back in August was more cataclysmic than cryptic.
The Montenegrin international winger, brought to Celtic the previous summer by Ange Postecoglou in a cut-price £1.7million switch from skint Rubin Kazan, took to social media to vent his frustration only four games into the new season.
Ill-advisably, Haksabanovic must have believed it would be a reasonable idea to test the temperament of new boss Brendan Rodgers, only two months into his second coming after replacing the Spurs-bound Greek-Aussie gaffer.
The Sweden-born forward, who had been overlooked for the opening two matches, had made a 75th-minute substitute’s appearance in the 1-0 Viaplay League Cup loss at Kilmarnock and, a week later, he came off the bench on the hour mark in the disappointing scoreless stalemate against St Johnstone at Parkhead.
OOPS…foot-in-mouth time for Sead Haksabanovic.
It may just have been the right time to remain out of the focus of a driven manager who would have been hurting after two dismal showings in succession.
Instead, displaying fairly diabolical timing or a bizarre sense of humour, Haksabanovic took to Instagram to publish an image with the words: “If they don’t see your value maybe you’re not at the right place.”
As far as spectacular own goals are concerned, it was right up there with Michael Beale gibbering on about the Govan club being prepared to take over the domination of Scottish football.
Four days after Haksabanovic’s words had been made public, he was on his way to English Championship side Stoke City on a season-long loan.
Alex Neil, the former Hamilton Accies head coach who lure the versatile raider to the Potteries, was sacked last month with the club toiling in 20th place in the table.
And that takes us to the present day. Rodgers has just okayed the £3million deal for winger Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna to add to his burgeoning list of players of that ilk.
SAINT AND SINNER…Sead Haksabanovic in what could be his final Celtic appearance, the goalless draw with St Johnstone at Parkhead on August 26 last year.
The German, the same age as Haksabanovic, is a signing of the Celtic manager, you can be absolutely certain of that. The Irishman sanctioned every recruit in the summer, but Kuhn is one he personally monitored and targeted.
At the moment, Rodgers has Kuhn, Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda, Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-jun, Marco Tilio and Mikey Johnston vying for wide positions. You can even throw evergreen James Forrest into the mix, but the 32-year-old much-decorated forward’s days of hurtling up and down the flanks may be numbered.
Haksabanovic can only look on from across the border and perhaps question the judgement he displayed in the summer.
When he arrived at Celtic, he talked of how he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his famous countryman Henrik Larsson.
He made just 13 starts in 40 appearances in all competitions in his debut campaign.
As I have insisted in the past, talk isn’t cheap. It can be extremely costly.
Just ask Sead Haksabanovic.
ALEX GORDON
