Ange Postecoglou has told Ewan Henderson he is free to leave Celtic in the January transfer window with a move to Scottish Premiership rivals Hibernian edging ever closer, as reported by the Scottish Sun.
On the face of it, Celtic’s topsy-turvy 3-2 Europa League victory over Real Betis in December felt like the perfect response to all those who questioned the lack of depth at Postecoglou’s disposal.
A much-changed Hoops side defeated one of La Liga’s most in-form sides, with Osaze Urhoghide, Liam Shaw and Liam Scales making their market on the continental stage.
21-year-old Henderson, meanwhile, scored with his first touch after stepping off the bench in the second half.
But if you hoped that was a turning point in his Celtic career, well, get your umbrella because it’s time to rain on your parade.
Has Ewan Henderson played his last game for Celtic?
According to The Athletic, Postecoglou’s decision to field a hodge-podge squad of kids and benchwarmers against Betis was not to see which of his fringe players could be trusted with a first-team role.
It was, instead, a case of putting those players in the shop window ahead of the January transfer window.
And it looks like Henderson’s first Celtic goal will also be his last.
The Sun reports that the Edinburgh-born playmaker, the younger brother of former Parkhead starlet Liam, has been told he has no future at the Glasgow giants by none other than Postecoglou himself.
First-team opportunities were proving hard to come by already. And Henderson’s chances were not helped by the arrivals of J-League duo Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi.
Henderson was at Hibernian’s East Mains training ground on Tuesday too as he closes in on a return to his home city.
Shaun Maloney, Hibs’ new boss, is expected to make Henderson one of his first signings at Easter Road, along with Arsenal youngster Harry Clarke and Bodo/Glimt’s Elias Melkerson.
Two years ago, then-Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers labelled Henderson a ‘big talent’, someone who had the potential to become a key cog in the Hoops machine.
Henderson, like Aaron Hickey and co, will now be looking to prove that one of Britain’s biggest clubs were wrong to write him off so soon.
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