Celtic find themselves in an interesting position at the moment. They have a squad full of treble winners. But at the same time, one cannot ignore the fact that many of them have struggled to produce their best since Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham Hotspur and was replaced by Brendan Rodgers in the summer.
The style of football has undergone a drastic change since last season. And it has not suited a lot of the players who were signed during the time of Ange Postecoglou as manager.
Liel Abada was expected to be a beneficiary of Rodgers' arrival. He was not a regular starter under the management of Postecoglou, even though he was a vital contributor. And with Jota leaving in the summer, it looked like the 22-year-old was set for a run in the starting XI.
A long-term injury and the off-field situation seem to have completely derailed Abada's season though. His efficiency in the final third of the pitch, which was his biggest strength, has dropped considerably. According to stats from Transfermarkt, he has scored 1 goal and provided 2 assists in 11 appearances in this campaign till now.
John Hartson tips 22-year-old for possible Celtic exit
If the situation does not change, Abada's time at Celtic might be running out. As reported by 67 Hail Hail, Hartson said on The Go Radio Football Show:
"There’s no doubt about it, the lad looks devoid of confidence. He’s a shadow in terms of the player that he was when he first arrived.
“Him and Jota were outstanding together. For some reason, he has had injury problems and he’s not really been able to produce the form that he’s able to produce.
“But if he’s not going to feature, the best thing for him and the club, because he will want to play regular football and the club can’t carry someone who has been one of their big players and is not putting in the same performances."
There is no doubt that Abada is a fantastic talent. But at the moment, things are not going his way and it is not hard to understand why he might be struggling.
If the situation does not change, it might make sense for both parties to part ways. There was rumoured to be interest in Abada's signature in the winter. And it would not be a major surprise if he did indeed leave after this season.