Celtic’s biggest problem this season has been injuries. Several important players have been out of action at one point or another for the Hoops and often Ange Postecoglou has been left scrambling for options. It is safe to say that that is far from ideal but in the January transfer window, they have gone a long way in rectifying that problem by bringing in five new signings already.
Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi, Johnny Kenny and Matt O’Riley are the five players that Celtic have signed this month till now. And looking at those names, it is pretty clear that Postecoglou wanted more options in the middle of the park.
With the style that Postecoglou’s sides play, the midfield is very important and it is great see the manager get the backing of the club in the January transfer window.
Now, they have been handed another boost in the middle of the park. Nir Bitton was present at training with the squad at Lennoxtown in a video posted on Celtic’s official YouTube channel.
Bitton return should be a major injury boost for Celtic
At the start of the campaign, it had not looked like Bitton was a big part of Postecoglou’s first-team plans, but he would eventually play his way into the team after some impressive performances in the absence of Tom Rogic earlier in the campaign, when the Australian was out on the sidelines with an injury.
Bitton was surprisingly absent from the last matchday squad but could be available for selection once again now in what must be a major boost for the Hoops.
With Soro struggling for form in recent times, it might very well come down to Bitton and Ideguchi for the club’s defensive midfield position. Interestingly, that is not a role that has always been present in Postecoglou’s starting XI.