The Celtic made his first appearance of the season this week.
Gary Mackay-Steven has admitted to The Glasgow Evening Times that it’s been hard watching so many of his Celtic colleagues excel under Brendan Rodgers this season.
The 26-year-old was linked with a loan move away from Parkhead in the summer as an ankle injury threatened his game time in Rodgers’ first season in Glasgow.
Although he ended up staying, it has been a long road back to full fitness for the Scot, who made a 30-minute cameo in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City this week for what was his first appearance of the season.
He probably should have marked the comeback with a goal but it was a promising return nonetheless.
With James Forrest and Scott Sinclair out injured, Mackay-Steven could well see more minutes in the coming weeks – a period which could determine whether Rodgers deems him sharp enough to stay with the Hoops beyond January.
And the former Dundee United star has revealed that the Northern Irish manager instructed him to be patient.
“It’s not been nice watching the new manager coming in and everyone hitting the ground running, while you stuck having to watch on. But he’s been very positive with me,” he told The Glasgow Evening Times.
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