MAIK NAWROCKI found himself back on the substitutes’ bench during Celtic’s 1-0 flop against St Johnstone in Perth yesterday.
The German-born former Poland Under-21 international centre-back had played in the previous two games against Rangers and Hearts and had been commended by Brendan Rodgers on both occasions.
However, Nawrocki, who cost £4.3million when he arrived from Legia Warsaw in July 2023, was dropped to make way for Auston Trusty at McDiarmid Park.
AIR RAID…Maik Nawrocki leaps between Ibrox pair John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande to fire in a header at Parkhead in his first league appearance of the season.
It was a decision that baffled many fans, particularly as Nawrocki had been the best defender on view in the inexplicable 3-2 collapse against Barry Ferguson’s Ibrox visitors and followed that up with a flawless display in the 3-0 home win over the Tynecastle team.
Before the defeat in Perth, Rodgers explained the decision when he told Sky Sports: “I think over a period of time Auston has done well.
“He obviously wasn’t fit enough to play in the second game against Hearts.
“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.”
However, Nawrocki must realise that game time at the champions will continue to be limited when Rodgers added fifteen words that surely condemned the 24-year-old back-four performer.
“But I prefer to have a left-sided player on that side of the pitch,” stressed the Hoops team chief.
I’M IN CHARGE…Cameron Carter-Vickers is a fixture in Celtic’s central defence.
Nawrocki is actually two-footed, but his right is the stronger.
He is under contract until June 2028, but it appears there is no long-term future for him at Parkhead unless Cameron Carter-Vickers, a fixture in the central rearguard since he originally joined on a season-long loan from Spurs in the summer of 2021, is transferred or is injured.
Ironically, the USA international, who cost £6million when he agreed a permanent deal a year after a impressive temporary spell, formed a double-act with Carl Starfelt that won five honours in Ange Postecoglou’s two years at the club.
The Swede is naturally right-footed, just like Carter-Vickers.
