Celtic’s Surprise Package In Pre-Season

Despite a strong start to his Celtic career, with goals against Motherwell and Kilmarnock just a month after joining, Luis Palma became a frustrating figure towards the end of last season after an initially promising beginning.

The Honduran international, despite his flaws, is a natural goal-scorer, a modern winger through and through, preferring to cut inside onto his stronger foot.

He had the personality and confidence to score a penalty against Feyenoord at home in the Champions League in December, demonstrating character that very few players display in their first season at the Hoops.

Despite all the praise, he can become predictable and ineffective if even slightly off his Game, which led to Daizen Maeda being favoured for the Business end of the season.

Palma despite this, has shown flashes of potential and is by no means a foregone conclusion.

He appears on the verge of becoming a special player if he can adapt to life in a possession-based team.

Areas where he will improve include decision-making on when to pass to teaMMAtes and when to drive down the outside, making it more challenging for opposition defenders to predict his next move.

In James Forrest, he has the ideal teammate to learn from in terms of final third decision-making.

If pre-season is any indication, Palma seems ready to comPete with Maeda for a spot in the starting 11.

With goals against Manchester City and Chelsea off the bench, he has demonstrated the character and determination to prove himself, even when others might have let their heads drop.

Brendan Rodgers’ fluent Spanish will also contribute to Palma’s development, with the Irishman displaying his personable side in the post-match interactions after the Game against Manchester City in the United States.