da dobrowin： [ad_pod ]
da 888： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Daniel Arzani has been taken out of Celtic’s Champions League squad for their tie with CFR Cluj in favour of Hatem Abd Elhamed, and it doesn’t look good for the young Australian.
On the chalkboard
The 20-year-old Manchester City loanee is facing yet another setback at Parkhead. The attacking midfielder has had a hard time since coming to Scotland, tearing his ACL on his debut just minutes after coming off the bench against Dundee.
The latest blow to his chances comes just as he’s returning to the first-team fold, which has to make you wonder if Neil Lennon sees any place for him whatsoever. Elhamed, an injury doubt for the game himself, has been given the chance in place of Arzani.
Just as the star looked like he was ready to earn another chance to carve out a career at the club, Lennon has brought him right back down to earth, revealing exactly where he sits in the pecking order.
Where does the news leave Arzani?
Being dropped from the squad shows how far down the pecking order the Australian is at Celtic Park.
For the wide-berths, he faces stiff competition from a plethora of talent. James Forrest has the right-hand side all but nailed down and youngster Mikey Johnston has started the season well, with the likes of Scott Sinclair, Marian Shved and Lewis Morgan waiting patiently in the wings. That’s a formidable list of players for Arzani to oust, and the prospects of getting in the side as a number ten aren’t much brighter.
Ryan Christie has established himself as the team’s first-choice creator already this season, with Tom Rogic still injured and Olivier Ntcham only just returning to prominence against Nomme Kalju.
Even the early-season change of formation to 3-5-2 would count against Arzani. The switch to a three at the back removes an attacking role to allow for more stability in the defence, which hardly suits the 20-year-old. He is not fitted to the two sitting roles in midfield, nor is he capable of doing the defensive duties of a wing-back.
The youngster will be hopeful of making an impact at Parkhead before his loan ends and he returns to Manchester City, but the competition in front of him and lack of an actual defined role are going to make life very difficult indeed.
[ad_pod ]