Brendan Rodgers selected a makeshift lineup against Dundee United after illness and injuries hit his squad hard. In defence, Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh stepped in alongside Liam Scales and Greg Taylor. With Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Alistair Johnston all being left out, the Celtic manager's choices for a back four were somewhat limited.
The rearranged squad saw Maik Nawrocki reappear on the bench. It’s quite telling that he wasn't selected ahead of Welsh, who has been heavily linked with a January exit, for the match.
Nawrocki was signed in the summer of 2023 from Legia Warsaw for a transfer fee believed to be around €5 million. Gustav Lagerbielke joined in the same window but has since been left on loan.
Nawrocki has only featured occasionally since his signing. The most recent was a short cameo against Falkirk earlier this season in the League Cup. That's his only time on the pitch in the ongoing campaign. It’s not what you'd expect from a relatively expensive signing and something needs to change.
Brendan Rodgers signing handed harsh Celtic exit blow
Last week there were reports in Poland that Nawrocki could make a return there. A move on loan or in a permanent deal to Slask Wroclaw was said to be a possibility.
If Nawrocki, or even Rodgers, were placing any hopes on that progressing, they fell apart today. As reported by the Daily Record, Slask Wroclaw's sports director Rafal Grodzicki said:
"I can assure you that we weren't even interested in this player. We have many central defenders in the club and our priority for strengthening are in other positions."
There’s not much room for misinterpretation or reading between the lines there. If Nawrocki is to make a move in January it's unlikely to be to Slask Wroclaw.
He has a long time left on his deal at Celtic. At the moment he has little chance of being in the starting XI and even the bench is a remote option. Unless Welsh moves out leaving Nawrocki as the fourth option, a move in January or the summer seems inevitable.