Martin O’Neill Could Hand Defender Celtic Lifeline – Opinion

Celtic’s preparations for the new season continue to gather pace as Martin O’Neill puts his squad through their paces in Portugal ahead of tonight’s friendly against Sporting CP.

The Hoops are using the warm weather camp to build fitness and sharpen up before the competitive action begins, with plenty still to be decided over the coming weeks.

A 1-1 draw with Shelbourne opened Celtic’s pre-season schedule last week. O’Neill changed his entire starting XI at half time, giving as many players as possible valuable minutes as they continue to build towards full match fitness.

One of those introduced after the break was Maik Nawrocki.

The Polish defender is back at the club after spending last season on loan with Hannover 96, where he enjoyed a far more consistent run of football than he managed during his time at Celtic.

Hannover narrowly missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga, but Nawrocki’s performances did not go unnoticed. The German club were keen to keep him, although Celtic’s reported £3 million valuation proved beyond their reach.

That leaves the 25-year-old back in Glasgow with his long-term future still unresolved.

There is, however, a genuine opportunity for Nawrocki to change the picture over the coming weeks.

He arrived from Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth more than £4 million but never managed to establish himself in the first team, making only 18 appearances  before heading out on loan last year.

His spell in Germany showed there is still a capable defender there when given regular football.

With O’Neill assessing every member of his squad during pre-season, Nawrocki has a chance to force himself back into the conversation. His physical attributes fit the profile of centre-half O’Neill is looking for, and there may be room for him to earn a role as reliable defensive cover if he can produce the right performances.

The defender has already acknowledged that staying at Celtic is a possibility, while also accepting that another move could develop if the right opportunity presents itself.

For now, though, the focus is firmly on pre-season.

Celtic are under no pressure to rush a decision. Nawrocki remains under contract until 2028, giving the club a strong position whether they decide to keep him or eventually cash in if further interest arrives from Germany.

The next three friendlies could go a long way towards deciding which path is taken.

If Nawrocki can build on the form he showed at Hannover and make an impression during the remainder of the summer schedule, he could yet earn another chance to establish himself at Parkhead.