IT is that time of the year when foreign footballers leave their clubs and join up with the international teammates back home. The local press quite naturally take an interest in their returning international heroes and are keen to report on their progress in the country’s media.
So when Emilio Izaguirre arrived back in the country of his birth his continued absence from the Celtic first team was certain to mystify the Honduran media, who regard the left back as a huge star.
Indeed the press in Honduras are completely puzzled that the 30-year-old international favourite is even struggling to get a place on the Scottish Champion’s substitute bench.
Teenager Kieran Tierney has taken over the left-back berth and condemned Izzy to the sidelines.
National newspaper La Prensa informed its readers: “All is not going well at Glasgow Celtic for Emilio Izaguirre.
“The Honduran defender is experiencing one of the worst early seasons in his career with the Hoops and, incredibly, has not yet debuted in this campaign in the Scottish Premier League or in the group phase of the Champions League.
“The defender didn’t make the 18-man squad chosen by Brendan Rodgers for the Group C Champions League match against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
“It is not the first time that Izaguirre has failed to appear on the bench and is the third in a row, it happened against Kilmarnock and Same Old Alloa Athletic.”
Izaguirre, who is in the last year of his contract, was linked with moves to Spain, North America and a return to Honduran side Montagua during the summer but CQN revealed that despite what appeared to be an emotional goodbye after the final league match of the season against Motherwell, that the player would be returning for this season.
Brendan Rodgers has set his sights on operating with a reduced squad size and Izaguirre may well feel that at this stage of his career, he needs to be playing regularly. Certainly when he does leave – either in the summer or more likely in January – he will go with the huge appreciation of the Celtic support.
Talking of Celtic left backs…
