Could Kieran Tierney’s Celtic return spell the end for his long-serving team-mate?

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Hauled off after 30 minuites against Motherwell recently, is Emilio Izaguirre’s Celtic career drawing to a close?

It seems a long time ago that Emilio Izaguirre seemed like the natural successor to Patrice Evra at Manchester United. These days, he’s been ousted from the Celtic starting line-up by a 19-year-old who only made his professional debut in April last year.

The Honduran international has only started four Scottish Premiership games under Brendan Rodgers this season. In fact, only a six-week layoff for prodigious teenager Kieran Tierney, surely Scotland’s and Celtic’s first choice left-back for years to come, handed the 30-year-old a route back into the first team.

Yet, only a few weeks ago, the Daily Record reported that Rodgers was keen to offer the long-serving left-back a new contract after speculation increased of a potential exit to the MLS.

“I kept working hard in training and was ready to play when I got back into the team,” Izaguirre told the Daily Record when discussing the possibility of extending his stay with the champions.

“The issue of a new contract is not down to me – my agent is negotiating with Celtic but the club have always treated me well.”

However, the fans who so once so elated when reported interest from one Sir Alex Ferguson came to nothing appear to have ran out of patience with the five-time title winner.

No one would have breathed a sigh of relief as poignant as Izaguirre after Celtic’s dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over Motherwell earlier in the month. After all, it was his dismal performance that contributed so heavily to the deficit Celtic were forced to overcome.

Izaguirre was hooked after a truly horrific half an hour, reduced to a lumbering mess by teen sensation Chris Cadden. Whether Celtic’s suits have changed their mind about that new contract remains to be seen.

As it stands, with Tierney (below) returning to the fold at last, Izaguirre might have a while to wait before he is given another prolonged run in the first team. Maybe, after seven seasons, 383 games and nine trophies, it’s time to call it a day – at Celtic Park at least.