Manchester City loanee Jahmai Simpson-Pusey appears to be at a crossroads in his early Celtic career. The highly-rated central defender joined on a season long loan from the Premier League giants in a bid to play regular first team football and compete in European football.
Brendan advised that the central defender needed time to get up to speed initially but as the season picks up in its intensity. However, as September draws to a close, the defender is yet to make an appearance in the Hoops.
Supporters had perhaps expected to see JSP involved to some degree in the Premier Sports Cup clashes with either Falkirk or Partick Thistle; however, the manager continued with the preferred defensive pairing of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales.
Dane Murray took up a place on the bench standing the injury to Auston Trusty. It appears as if the manager sees JSP down the pecking order of his backline.
There is an outside possibility that Rodgers could take JSP forward in a season arc similar to Dedryck Boyata in the 2016/17 season. The Belgian was cut adrift at the beginning of the season but worked his way into the squad in the second half of the season and helped Celtic to an Invincible Treble, forming a formidable pairing with Jozo Simunovic.
The difference to Boyata’s situation and JSP’s is distinct – Dedryck was a Celtic player while JSP is a Man City player.