ODIN HOLM’S Celtic future has been thrown into doubt after Brendan Rodgers dropped him from his Champions League plans.
The Norwegian midfielder, who cost £2.25million when he arrived from Valerenga last summer, was missing from the manager’s 25-man squad which was announced yesterday, as CQN reported.
Holm was included last year although his debut in Europe’s elite competition turned into a nightmare with a sending-off in the opening 2-0 loss against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
He was also pitched in as a half-time substitute for Matt O’Riley in the 6-0 collapse against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital when the visitors had to play most of the encounter following a harsh red card for Daizen Maeda.
GREEN FOR GO…Odin Holm during Celtic’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Ayr United at Somerset Park.
Now, though, the 21-year-old anchorman is out altogether from the player pool that will see Rodgers’ men kick off their latest European adventure against Slovan Bratislava at Parkhead on Wednesday September 18.
That will be followed by matches against Bundesliga duo Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipszig, Europa League winners Atalanta, Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb and Young Boys before the curtain comes down on the opening phase with a trip across the border to face Aston Villa on January 29 2025.
Holm made substitute appearances in Celtic’s first three league outings of the season against Kilmarnock (4-0), Hibs (2-0) and St Mirren (3-0), but was omitted from the squad for the 3-0 win over Phillipe Clement’s Ibrox side on Sunday.
New signings Arne Engels and Luke McCowan were among the stand-by squad and both made their debuts after the interval.
SEEING RED…a stunned Odin Holm is dismissed in Celtic’s 2-0 Champions League loss against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Holm made only 13 appearances in his debut campaign and claimed one goal – in the 5-0 Scottish Cup victory over non-league Buckie Thistle In January – as he struggled for game time.
Under UEFA regulations, Rodgers has to name eight homegrown players in his list which opened places for fringe men such as Stephen Welsh and Adam Montgomery.
Ominously for Holm, Rodgers was forced to make a similar decision last term and he decided to leave out £3.75million left-back Alexandro Bernabei.
The Argentinian defender moved on a season-long loan to Brazilian club SC Nacional in March and is not due back in Scotland until the end of the year.
There is every possibility Bernabei has kicked his last ball for Celtic.
