MARCO TILIO edged closer to his long-awaited Celtic debut when he made a cameo appearance for Australia in their 2-1 win over Qatar last night.
The winger, who cost £3million when he arrived from Melbourne City on a five-year deal in June, has been nowhere near a place in Brendan Rodgers’ matchday squad.
Tilio has been hampered by injuries, but he got the nod for the Aussie Under-23s last night to play the remaining 10 minutes of the match in the Middle East.
THE WAITING GAME…Marco Tilio is poised to come on for the Aussie Under-23s in Qatar.
The 22-year-old forward came through unscathed and is hoping for a starting place when his nation play Saudi Arabia in another friendly on Tuesday.
Rodgers is remaining patient with the youngster and, in September, the second time-around Hoops boss said: “The intensity of the game is totally different to what he is used to, so it’s been a challenge for him in training.
“It’s going to take him more time, but I am not in any big rush for Marco. He will bring himself to the team as quickly as he can produce in training.”
It’s unlikely the Parkhead fans will get a first glimpse of Tilio before the turn of the year as he continues the battle for match fitness with his country’s Under-23 team.
