Hatem Abd Elhamed is looking forward to the new season more than any other Celtic player.
When the hoops kick off their defence of the SPFL title on August 1 he’ll have experienced just 15 minutes playing time in almost nine months.
Elhamed’s nightmare began away to Lazio at the star of November when he suffered a muscle injury late on as Neil Lennon’s side enjoyed a famous win.
His return after the winter break was delayed, within a week of making his comeback in a cameo role against St Mirren on March football was suspended with the defender and his team-mates put into cold storage.
Over the last week Elhamed has been part of a staged return to pre-season training and told the Celtic website that he is more than ready to resume his hoops career.
Getting injured in the Lazio game was a frustrating moment for me, especially after a very good game. I was confident that I would keep going from there and continue to achieve my goal, but that injury stopped me for more than four months.
The Lazio game was a special night, though, especially with the Celtic fans, over 10,000 of them, away in Rome, that was very exciting. To win the game with Olly’s goal in the 95th minute, it was very special. When that happens, you need to run and celebrate.
I came back in for the St Mirren game before the football was postponed, and I wanted to keep playing and to keep getting more game time. But the pandemic stopped everything. That wasn’t ideal but now I feel fit and I’m ready to go for this season.
Last season Elhamed only started three SPFL matches but played in six European ties before his season came to a halt.