Celtic completed the loan signing of centre-half Nat Phillips towards the end of the summer transfer window amid a defensive injury crisis. Despite impressing in a Liverpool shirt before moving to Glasgow, the Englishman failed to capture the imagination at Parkhead.
Throughout his short spell at the club, Phillips made just eight appearances in all competitions. In those, the 26-year-old by no means impressed supporters as he put in some mediocre displays.
Now according to The Scottish Sun, Phillips has already returned to Liverpool after an unsuccessful loan North of the border.
For all parties, this move is the best. Phillips was only brought in for cover and now that there are a respectable number of fit centre-backs available for Brendan Rodgers, his services are no longer needed.
His time as a Celtic player wasn’t the most memorable. Phillips didn’t win a trophy in his spell at the club and his performances were sub-par, to say the least. Fans’ comparisons of the Bolton-born defender to Shane Duffy were telling.
When he returns to Anfield going into the second half of the season, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for Phillips. His spell at Celtic didn’t go as planned and he will be hoping for much more prosperity at the back end of 2023/24.
Another last-minute, almost panic signing, as the summer transfer window was about to close.
Yet another example of poor preparation, leaving the signing of new players/loanees till the last minute instead of getting the business done early.
A fortune has been wasted on the late summer recruits with few successes.