There was something timely and interesting about Celtic’s Swedish defender popping his head above the parapet as he gave an interview to the newspapers back home as well as an Instagram post courtesy of the agency he represents. It was timely in the sense that Lagerbielke was gently reminding everybody that the forgotten man of Celtic was still around and could more than do a job…if required. Interestingly, it was Lagerbielke via the Insta video who seemed to be advertising his wares for potential summer suitors or letting the pictures speak for themselves and let them fly in the face of the conventional wisdom and criticism surrounding him. Experienced, Reliable, and Professional. Join a regulated broker with a stellar reputationTrade with Confidence – FxPro, a Trusted Broker Since 2002 and winner 105 industry awardsFxPro | Sponsored A lack of speed seems to be the go-to flaw in his game yet these clips emphasised his pace not lack of it and as if to hammer home the point it was no coincidence that the day he reached 33 kph in one clip was highlighted. The player himself in the montage was perhaps challenging the narratives that have built around him in Glasgow and which have totally overshadowed his Celtic career contributions thus far.

Nine appearances. 571 minutes. One goal. It does not amount to a hill of beans – does it? A move to Italian Serie A side Lecce was blocked in the 11th hour of the January transfer window as Celtic suffered yet another injury centre-back crisis as Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered another setback. Lagerbielke has not found game time forthcoming despite Carter-Vickers’ absence with Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales being preferred by Brendan Rodgers for defensive roles. It’s a safe bet to say that Lagerbielke’s future at Celtic looks bleak. However, there could be a silver lining even if he does leave in the summer. Whatever way you dress it up the neatly produced agency Instagram package was the online equivalent of a come-and-get-me plea. What about the interview with a Swedish newspaper? Well, Lagerbielke touched on many issues; the breakdown in communication with Rodgers, his early promise, winning at Ibrox, as well as Celtic’s reluctance to let him join Lecce. The 23-year-old £3 million summer signing from Elfsborg said: “I really like Glasgow as a city and Celtic is a big club, which is noticeable. Especially when it comes to the audience, the stadium and everything around. “I have great opportunities to develop here. I have good teammates and feel that I have their trust. It has been an instructive time here where I feel that I have developed. The only thing missing is playing time. “No, I haven’t really (spoke to the manager about a lack of game time). Right now I feel that I am really in the best shape of my life. I am much stronger and faster than ever and also mentally I have for a long time worked up a stable foundation that provides security.Of course, it’s frustrating that I don’t get to show it every week because I know I would have delivered. There’s nothing else to do but to grind away and keep on going. Like I said, I like it here. “I got to play the second day I arrived so I was thrown into it right away. Since then there has been tough competition and we win most of the games and there are very good players that I compete with. So I have to go for it and show that I will play. There were many interested clubs, but then an injury situation at the club meant that nothing happened.”Right now the focus is on training as well as possible and continuing to show that I will play. We can still win the double, as we are fighting with Rangers for the league title and are still in the cup as well. So there are two titles to play for. “I want to play and will do everything in my power to help the team. At the same time, I know I’m capable of playing in the top leagues so it’s a situation we will review after the season.” The biggest irony in all of this is that Rodgers’s shtick and something that he prides himself on is the area of player development. Yet the Northern Irishman seems to be at pains and a loss to explain what he can/will/is going to with a problem like Lagerbielke.There is on the surface of it a potentially top-quality Swedish defender hidden in there. There is also a willingness to graft and a work ethic to put his head down and get on with and deal with whatever is thrown at him.One might expect the Celtic boss to lap Lagerbielke’s attitude and qualities up, especially when they belong to a young talented player who looks ripe for the development and progress treatment Rodgers style.

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