Celtic defender Hatem Abd Elhamed has had a terrible time with injury this season, but after spending four months on the sidelines, the summer recruit finally looks ready to start matches once again.
The 28-year-old came on for the final ten minutes of the 5-0 win over St Mirren at the weekend and was brought down in the box before Callum McGregor’s penalty sealed an emphatic win for the home side.
Supporters on Twitter think Abd Elhamed should be in with a shout of starting the Old Firm derby against Rangers this weekend:
Start him next week
— jamie (@Lord_Bitton67) 7 March 2020
Best defender at the club…starts next week
— David O’Reilly (@DavidOReilly3) 7 March 2020
Quality player….??
— Me!!! YOLO….. (@Caseanmel) 7 March 2020
Missed him, the guy is solid as a rock HH ?
— Rogic Lifetime Contract CSC (@sellik88) 7 March 2020
Big man is the best right back we’ve had in ages never looks fazed he’s 100% starting next Sunday in our 1-3 win ??????
— Disco abd elhamed ?? (@Davidbeaton20) 7 March 2020
Immense player
— Andrew McAleese (@Monoman68) 7 March 2020
Would always be in my team ???
— Gmac (@GmacZico) 7 March 2020
Looked class when he came on, starts next week
— Michaelkelly (@Michaelkellyhh) 7 March 2020
Play him next week
— Dmcdcfc ? (@Dmcdcfc1) 7 March 2020
has to start against rangers.. i remember his unreal tackle on defoe as he was 1v1 with forster.. he’s our best defender when he plays… we’ve really missed him
— Rossy? (@KeatingRoss88) 7 March 2020
Yass, like this lad, keeps it simple at the back and gets up with purpose
— Edward Nashton (@EdwardNashton7) 8 March 2020
Great to have the big man back. Start him on Sunday!
— Colin Ferrie (@Colin_Ferrie) 8 March 2020
With Kristoffer Ajer a doubt due to a calf problem, the Israeli international could have a chance of starting at Ibrox, with Jozo Simunovic also sidelined with a knee injury.
Considering Abd Elhamed hasn’t started a game since the famous 2-1 win over Lazio in early November, it would be a big call by manager Neil Lennon to select the centre-back but you have to say that the player has never let anyone down when given the nod this campaign.
