Celtic’s turnaround stars

Earlier this week Brendan Rodgers admitted that he would be having contract talks about extending Emilio Izaguirre's contract. The Honduran appeared to be waving good-bye to Celtic at the end of last season but Rodgers insisted that he returned for the final season of his contract. Not much seemed to be improving for Izzy but the misfortune of ankle ligament damage to Kieran Tierney opened the door to a top team return. Izzy has taken that with both hands, picked up a Betfred Cup winners medal and signed 2016 off with an impressive display at Ibrox. Whether he gets round to signing a new contract remains to be seen but whatever happens in future he certainly managed to turn things around rather than leave Celtic a shadow of the player that arrived in 2010. Down the years it's highly unusual for players to turn around a downward spiral in their career but there has been a couple who have rescued things. Some players find it impossible to salvage things once they go wrong but there are always exceptions, click on the panel below to relive details of players who 'did an Izzy'. TOMMY COYNE After being signed as Frank McAvennie returned to West Ham Coyne found it difficult to make his mark at Celtic after signing from Dundee. The 89/90 season turned out to be pretty disastrous for all at Celtic with Coyne left out of the squad that travelled to Germany and Holland for the pre-season build up. Following a defeat in the autumn League Cup Final Coyne was recalled to the team and scored twice in a midweek win over Motherwell. He never looked back from that moment and finished the season as Scotland top scorer despite not starting till November. STEPHEN MCMANUS Seemed set to move to Livingston at the end of the Martin O'Neill reign, when Gordon Strachan signed Adam Virgo that option seemed confirmed. Following the 5-0 defeat to Artmedia big Mick was brought in to face Motherwell at Fir Park. The game finished 4-4 but a no-nonsense display from McManus meant that he kept his place. A new contract was agreed midway through that season as he improved on a game by game basis, commanding at the back and a goal threat at set pieces. When Neil Lennon moved on McManus was given the captaincy BOBBY PETTA As one of John Barnes signings he was always up against it- being paraded alongside Olivier Tebily and Eyal Berkavic as the new era opened. Under Barnes the former Ipswich man bombed, under Kenny Dalglish it didn't get much better. When Martin O'Neill arrived he looked destined for the exit door but quickly made his mark, none more so than in the 6-2 game that saw his direct 'opponent' Fernando Ricksen substituted after half an hour. Petta made it all the way to the Dutch international squad but after 18 months in O'Neill's plans he drifted out the picture. SHAUN MALONEY Like McManus his Celtic career was on the slide by the time Martin O'Neill handed over to Gordon Strachan. Jeremy Aliadiere was brought in on loan as an Arsenal wonder boy but as he failed to cut it Maloney and Craig Beattie made their mark under the new manager. Strachan liked Maloney so much that he bought him back from Aston Villa although his second stint didn't turn out to be a success with Wigan his next call. JAMES FORREST No one would have batted an eyelid if Forest had left Celtic last summer with an English Championship side the likely destination. Brendan Rodgers saw something in the winger, had a word and when Patrick Roberts got injured Forrest took his chance. The injuries of the past have been shaken off and his form has left Roberts on the sidelines, a new contract was agreed earlier this season.

Related Stories

Fresh interest emerges as Engels exit seems inevitable

Bitter Herald hack launches fresh Celtic attack

Greetin faced Jambo goes viral

The elusive Martin O’Neill radio interview

Watch Super Jack Butland’s End of Season celebrations

Brian Wilson’s cowardly reaction to Scottish media pile on

You may have missed

Fresh interest emerges as Engels exit seems inevitable

Bitter Herald hack launches fresh Celtic attack

Greetin faced Jambo goes viral

The elusive Martin O’Neill radio interview

JAMES FORREST

What do you feel about this?

Related Stories

Trending Now

You may have missed