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Birthday wishes sent to ‘one of the most underrated and under-appreciated players at our club’

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Image for Birthday wishes sent to ‘one of the most underrated and under-appreciated players at our club’

Nir Bitton celebrates his 28th birthday today- as the longest serving non-Scot at Celtic.

In August 2013 he was signed as a defensive midfielder from FC Ashdod of Israel and chucked into a debut as a substitute against Milan in the San Siro.

Picking up a red card 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute against Ajax didn’t endear him to his new manager but Neil Lennon quickly began to appreciate his talent as he settled into a new club and country.

On 2 November 2015 he signed a new contract with Celtic now managed by Ronny Deila, that deal runs out at the end of this season with the club and Bitton’s circumstances much changed.

The rapidly emptying stadium has been reversed, Lennon is back in charge with Celtic sweeping to the last nine domestic trophies.

Midfield is the most fiercely contested area of the Celtic side with Scott Brown still the first-pick regardless of who is the manager.

Stuart Armstrong has come and gone with Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor holding off the challenges from Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham.

Should Celtic give Nir Bitton a new contract?

YES, he still has a contribution to make.

YES, he still has a contribution to make.

No, it's time to move on.

No, it's time to move on.

Bitton now looks a more than competent central defender but crucially not a first choice. At 28 going on 29 when his contract expires, he has to decide whether to stay on at Celtic for what looks like a dozen appearances a season or take a step down and play more regularly.

Lennon would like Bitton to stay but when no contract offer is on the table well into the final year or his current deal the signs suggest that the Israeli internationalist could be following Mikael Lustig out of the club at the end of the season.

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