LIEL ABADA may not kick another ball for Celtic this season – but Brendan Rodgers insists the club “will look after him well” in the midst of distressing off-the-field turmoil.
The Israeli winger has failed to make the matchday squad for the past three games against St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Motherwell and there will be a no-show from the international star against Dundee at Parkhead tonight.
Rodgers has refused to put extra pressure on the 22-year-old player during his homeland’s conflict with Palestine and a section of the Hoops’ fanbase’s political stance.
HAPPIER TIMES…Liel Abada congratulates Kyogo Furuhashi on his derby matchwinner at Ibrox in September.
The Irishman admitted Abada is not mentally attuned and the Celtic boss insisted he knew nothing about worrying reports in Israel about the individual being abused in the streets of Glasgow.
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I’m not aware of that. I speak regularly with Liel. It’s sadly a situation which doesn’t put him in the right frame of mind to play. But that’s a day-by-day thing.
“He’s still training with the group, sadly not available for the games.
“We’ll treat him well and look after him well whilst he’s here.”
HEAD DOWN…Liel Abada displays disappointment.
There have been frequent reports of Abada quitting the club and the most recent speculation has linked him with three MLS clubs, one of them being Giorgos Giakoumakis’ side Atlanta United, as CQN reported yesterday.
It’s not clear what the next step is for the goalscoring flanker, one of Ange Postecoglou’s first signings for the club at £3.5million from Maccabi Petah Tikva in July 2021.
What does seem certain is that there will be no sign of Abada while the warfare rages on between Israel and Palestine.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Dundee this evening – only in your champion CQN.
