TOM ROGIC’S return to the Celtic first team has been hailed – by former Ibrox boss Alex McLeish.
The Australian international midfielder, signed by Neil Lennon during his first stint as Hoops manager in January 2013, looked to be heading for the Parkhead exit in the summer in a £4million switch to Qatar.
However, 27-year-old Rogic has battled his way back into the champions’ plans in a monumental season with so much up for grabs, including the remarkable quadruple treble and the phenomenal tenth successive championship.
The Wizard of Oz has pushed French ace Olivier Ntcham onto the substitutes’ bench while he continues to dovetail superbly alongside Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor in the team’s engine room.
On recent form, he is a certainty to start against Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday afternoon and, following his excellent showing against Aberdeen in the delayed semi-final, he may have booked a place in the team for Scottish Cup Final against Hearts on December 20.
McLeish, speaking to Football Insider, admitted: “Will Neil Lennon be pleased he kept hold of Tom? Not half, absolutely not half.
“When we spoke about Rogic, right at the start of the current season, he seemed to be a little bit out of things.
“I’m starting to think with Tom, because he’s got that big, lopey stride, and you’re thinking has Tom got slower, again, back to that legs thing, is he on the wain?
“And then he comes back with performances in the games he’s played recently – he’s always been a thorn in Aberdeen’s particular ventures over the years and he did the damage in the semi-final.
“He’s been a revelation since Neil brought him back into the team.”
