Since joining Celtic on deadline day, winger Joel Mvuka has made just one appearance for the club. His debut didn't go as well as he may have hoped for, but his total exclusion from the squad since has seemed harsh.
Now, Martin O'Neill has provided an update on the loanee. Speaking to The Celtic Way, he said:
"I’m hoping there’ll be a bit of disappointment. He found it difficult in the first half. That was the Dundee game. He’s been out of the picture a little while. But no, he’s trained very, very well. Just recently trained very well, indeed."
The FC Lorient winger has played just 45 minutes in the Hoops and was slammed by supporters after his disappointing debut. He was hooked, and fans thought his time may have been up before it even began.
However, with these comments, it seems that Mvuka has a new glimpse of hope, with O'Neill maybe willing to trust him in upcoming fixtures.
Not the only signing who has failed to impress
Although Mvuka is the talk of the town as he has been left out for many weeks now, he certainly isn't the only new signing who has failed to settle in.
Tomas Cvancara has been criticised for his lack of goals, with others like Junior Adamu and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being hooked at half-time against Rangers last weekend after failing to make an impact.
Centre-back Benjamin Arthur has also only made one appearance for Celtic since joining on loan from Brentford, and it was in a 2-1 loss against Hibernian.
It isn't all bad though, as right-back Julian Aurajo has won over the fans with his impressive performances and rattling of Rangers. He is the only standout name in a pool of new players, with him being the only person right now that fans seem to be willing to offer a permanent deal.
Important point in the season
We're currently going through an intense run of fixtures, and it really isn't going to quiet down. Celtic are still in the title race, although both they and the Gers gave Hearts the advantage after drawing at Ibrox, and post-split results could prove crucial in deciding where the trophy goes.
Rotation is key, but O'Neill still needs to have 100% faith in every player he fields. Although he may like what he is seeing from players like Mvuka in training, will he trust them enough to start them in incredibly important matches?
If the team want to focus on the league, he may choose to give some backup options a chance against Rangers at the weekend in the Scottish Cup. Of course, they'll want to win the game either way, but it could be a good chance for fringe players to show that they have what it takes to play for the Hoops.