Unless he ups his game, it would be no surprise if the 26-year-old was shipped out of Celtic in the summer.
Though Gary Mackay-Steven was quick to remind The Evening Times that he would never wish misfortune on a team-mate, his presence in the starting XI against Inverness on Wednesday owed much to James Forrest picking up an injury in the weekend’s win against Hamilton.
The 26-year-old started for only the fourth time this season in the league as Moussa Dembele inspired yet another comfortable Scottish Premiership cruise in midweek, this time a 4-0 triumph, away at Inverness, as he begins a potentially make-or-break two months in his Celtic career.
Since Brendan Rodgers took over in the summer, Mackay-Steven has been used as something as an afterthought, featuring in just seven of the club’s 27 league fixtures.
The Express reported in January that Celtic turned down a loan bid from his former club Dundee United but, in truth, he will have to up his game if he is to remain at Parkhead by the start of the 2017/18 campaign.
Because, despite Celtic netting another glut of goals away at the Caledonian Stadium, Mackay-Steven failed to prove to his manager that he has been harshly excluded in recent weeks.
Perhaps understandably considering his lack of opportunities this season, Mackay-Steven was far too safe in attack, taking too long on the ball at times and thus rendering himself completely ineffective from an attacking sense.
It was a powderpuff display, the sort that would instil doubts in even the most patient Celtic supporter. Overall, the fans remain divided by his presence in the squad, his enthusiasm and positive, on-pitch persona increasingly undermined by anonymous performances.
Against Inverness, he was a passenger for long periods. And a side fighting on all fronts cannot afford to carry anyone.
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