Luis Palma’s international summer has taken a sharp downturn after the Celtic winger was dropped to the bench for Honduras’s second Gold Cup group stage match against El Salvador, playing just a single minute in the 2-0 win.
Palma started the tournament opener against Canada on June 18, but it was a night to forget for the 25-year-old. Honduras trailed 2-0 at half-time and Palma was hooked during the interval as manager Reinaldo Rueda scrambled to stabilise his side.
It proved a telling moment, Palma didn’t return to the starting XI for the second match, as Rueda instead turned to a more compact midfield.
Rueda’s decision to leave Palma out suggested he no longer trusted him to make an impact when it mattered. The winger was only brought on for the final minute against El Salvador, with the game already won. It was a clear sign of how far his stock has fallen with the national team.
It comes at a difficult time in Palma’s club career. He spent last season on loan at Olympiacos but failed to convince the Greek side to trigger their option to buy.
With Celtic preparing for the new campaign under Brendan Rodgers, Palma’s future at the Hoops looks uncertain. The club is expected to offload the winger this summer as part of a wider squad reshuffle.
Palma arrived at Celtic with high hopes but struggled to establish consistency. His latest international setback only adds to the sense of a player in need of a reset.
Whether that comes with a permanent move away from Glasgow remains to be seen, but his time in green and white looks increasingly like it’s drawing to a close.
