The Celtic squad returned to Lennoxtown last week as preparations for the new season got underway, with several familiar faces back on the training pitch ahead of a crucial summer.

A handful of players were missing after international duty. Liam Scales and Viljami Sinisalo are among those who were given an extended break following recent friendlies, as well as the eight stars who were at, or currently still are, at the World Cup.

Captain Callum McGregor was back leading the group, while Arne Engels also returned despite continued interest from clubs across Europe.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha rejoined the squad on Friday after spending part of his summer working individually, sharing clips of one-to-one training on social media. The Belgian arrived for £5 million last year but found opportunities limited in his first season.

With Celtic set to face Shelbourne in their opening pre-season friendly on July 7, there is every chance Balikwisha will get an opportunity to impress. He could even be deployed in the number 10 role as Martin O’Neill begins shaping his side for the campaign ahead.

Another player back in training was Paulo Bernardo, although his future remains far from certain.

The Portuguese midfielder has not featured in a league match since the win over Motherwell in March. As Celtic entered the decisive weeks of the season, it became increasingly clear he had fallen out of favour under O’Neill.

Luke McCowan and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both moved ahead of him in the pecking order, leaving Bernardo watching from the sidelines when the biggest matches arrived.

That represents a sharp change from where he found himself only a year earlier.

After impressing during his initial loan spell from Benfica in the 2023-24 season, Celtic moved quickly to make the deal permanent. At the time, it looked like Bernardo would become a key part of the midfield for years to come.

Instead, he managed only 20 appearances across the whole of last season, nowhere near the level of involvement a 24-year-old midfielder would want at such an important stage of his career.

O’Neill has acknowledged Bernardo was unfortunate, pointing to the fierce competition for places in midfield as a major factor behind his lack of game time.

There have still been reminders of the qualities that persuaded Celtic to invest in him. His cameo in the Scottish Cup victory over Rangers at Ibrox brought fresh energy to the midfield at a point when Celtic needed it. Performances like that suggest there is still a player capable of contributing if given the platform.

Much could depend on how the rest of the transfer window develops.

With uncertainty surrounding the futures of Engels and Reo Hatate, the midfield picture could look very different by the time the competitive action begins. If departures materialise, Bernardo may find a route back into contention rather than towards the exit door.

He is contracted until 2029, meaning the club is in a strong position when it comes to his future.

O’Neill has already spoken about tweaking Celtic’s style of play, with a greater physical presence in midfield one possible objective during the rebuild. Whether Bernardo fits into that vision or becomes another player moved on over the coming weeks is one of the questions that will shape Celtic’s summer.