Celtic centre-back Maik Nawrocki did not even make the bench for the 2-0 home defeat to Hearts on Saturday.
The 22-year-old was left out of the matchday squad by manager Brendan Rodgers in favour of Stephen Welsh, who was named as a substitute, with Liam Scales partnering Cameron Carter-Vickers in the middle of defence.
Fans on X have been left scratching their heads as to why Nawrocki has continued to be overlooked despite the fact that he has been fit and available for well over a month:
its a joke hes no even making the bench
— Ak (@AKCELTICglasgow) December 16, 2023
Can’t get in the squad ahead of Stephen welsh who should have been finished when an ancient Jermaine Defoe outpaced him in the covid season
— Robert Wozniak (@RobertWozniakFc) December 16, 2023
His time will come surely
Scales is the flavour of the month , for now.
I'm certain an opportunity will arise for Nawrocki
He needs to be ready, and take it— @RabCorbett (@RabCorbett2) December 16, 2023
Seemed a decent player as well, legia fans loved him. Bizarre.
— Max (@Max____67) December 16, 2023
2nd best centreback at the club, should be partnering CCV.
— Mickey Sullivan (@MickeyM51050192) December 16, 2023
He baffles me the most. Looked good when he played, good on the ball and really nice passing
— CC (@CFCUTLR_) December 16, 2023
Nawrocki’s lack of minutes is perplexing
Although there is a mitigating factor in that the Polish Under 21 international was sidelined with a hamstring injury for six weeks, it doesn’t explain why Rodgers hasn’t selected him more often in recent matches.
Nawrocki has played just 3 times since making the £4.3m transfer from Legia Warsaw, and he looked pretty good in the games he played in as well.
Is Rodgers sending a message to the Celtic board?
There are suspicions that players such as Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Marco Tilio were not signings that were approved by Rodgers and that may be why they haven’t featured that prominently since their arrival in the summer.
If that is the case, the Hoops boss may be trying to tell the club’s hierarchy that he wants to bring in his own recruits. While that could turn out to be pure speculation, the continued absence of Nawrocki is very strange.
