Effectively shunned- Marco Tilio is reported to be pushing for A-League return

Marco Tilio has reportedly ‘reached out’ to Melbourne City and Sydney FC over a January loan move.

The winger joined Celtic in the summer from Melbourne City but has been restricted to two brief substitute appearances since is transfer.

Getting 27 minutes of football and being left out of the Champions League squad was unlikely to have been included in Celtic’s transfer pitch.

A five year contract is in place but according to Australian publisher FTBL the winger is looking for an A-League return in the new year:

Marco Tilio is looking for a Celtic circuit breaker, with the out of favour attacker understood to be seeking a loan spell back in the A-League.

FTBL can reveal that Tilio, 22, has reached out to former clubs Melbourne City and Sydney FC in pursuit of game time, after being effectively shunned by Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

Recalled by Socceroos chief Graham Arnold for January’s Asian Cup, Tilio has enjoyed no such fortune since joining the Bhoys on a five-year deal from Melbourne City in June.

Hampered by an early injury setback, he’s since made just two senior appearances – for a total of 27 minutes – and hasn’t been in a match day squad since a cameo off the bench in a 4-1 win over Hibernian at the beginning of December.

Sources in Glasgow suggest Tilio is unhappy with his inability to progress up the pecking order at Celtic Park, and his representatives have sounded out both City, who picked up $2.8 million from his sale, and the Sky Blues as possible loan destinations.

Mikey Johnston’s increased involvement in the first team squad plus the return from injury of Liel Abada makes it seem highly unlikely that Tilio will be given an opportunity at Celtic this season.

Going out on loan to a British or European club would give the winger a greater chance of returning to Celtic, returning to the A-League looks like acknowledgment that he made the wrong move in the summer.