MARCO TILIO, who hasn’t figured in the Celtic first team since his June arrival, could be heading for the Hoops exit.
The Australian winger, a £3million recruit on a five-year deal from Melbourne City, has been hampered with injury and his career has stalled at the champions.
Now the 22-year-old forward, who played for 10 minutes of his nation’s 2-1 win over Qatar in the Middle East at the weekend, could be one of the players loaned out in the January transfer window as Brendan Rodgers streamlines his 33-man squad.
The Celtic gaffer revealed there is likely to be some frantic activity at Parkhead with several players at the departure gate, as CQN reported last month.
GREEN FOR GO…Marco Tilio poses at Celtic Park after his June arrival.
Rodgers admitted: “It’s more quality than quantity, but I think there will be more going out than coming in.
“There will be players who will be here for six months and won’t have played.
“It’s no fault of them. The squad is a lot bigger than I would want. I think there will be more players who will look to go out and get game time.”
Tilio comes into that category while he is way down the pecking order at Scotland’s title kings with other wide Bhoys such as Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda, Yang Hyun-jun, Luis Palma and the evergreen James Forrest ahead of him.
Others who could leave on temporary or permanent deals are Swiss keeper Benji Siegrist, Japanese centre-back Yuki Kobayashi and forgotten man James McCarthy.
Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips is also scheduled to return to Anfield when his short-term switch is completed at the turn of the year.
South Korean midfielder Kwon Hyeon-kyu, like Tilio, has yet to make his debut and may benefit from top-side appearances elsewhere.
ON THE MOVE…Mikey Johnston during his only Celtic appearance this season in the 0-0 draw at Hibs.
Mikey Johnston is also at the crucial crossroads with only a cameo outing in the goalless draw against Hibs at Easter Road last month as his contribution this time around.
The Republic of Ireland flanker, who was used as a second-half substitute in his adopted nation’s 1-0 loss to the Netherlands in Amsterdam at the weekend, spent last term on loan at Portuguese top-flight outfit Vitoria Guimaraes.
There are still question marks over Japanese midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi who is due to return to the Hoops in January when his deal at Avispa Fukuoka expires.
January is shaping to be a busy month for the Celtic manager.
