Oliver Burke needs a big performance this weekend to get back on track.
Celtic attacker Oliver Burke began his loan spell at the club with a flourish.
Now his immediate progress is tailing off, and quickly unravelling.
Burke signed on loan from West Bromwich Albion, as a player weighed down by two different clubs’ high valuations of him in the past which he was unable to live up to.
At first at Celtic it seemed a perfect fit, with manager Brendan Rodgers raving about him and stating he had been watching him for years.
Rodgers’ exit came as a hammer blow to Burke.
He is not guaranteed a place in the Celtic side, an unused substitute in the win over Dundee a fortnight ago.
Burke fell sort of the standard required when he got his chance for Scotland last week against Kazakhstan, and was dropped for the game with San Marino.
It’s important to remember Burke is only 21, and has a creditable record of four goals and three assists in 14 matches for Celtic.
It looked like Burke had found a natural home at Celtic when he signed. There is plenty of work to still be done.
If selected, his performance against Rangers this weekend could define his spell at the club.
Burke’s spell at Celtic began like a dream. Now reality is hitting.
If he works hard and Neil Lennon shows faith, he can still get what he wants out of the loan move. The next two months will be crucial for his career.
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