Gustaf Lagerbielke eyeing up a redemption shot at Celtic?

There was something timely and interesting about Celtic's Swedish defender popping his head above the parapet as he gave an interview to the newspapers back home as well as an Instagram post courtesy of the agency he represents.

It was timely in the sense that Lagerbielke was gently reminding everybody that the forgotten man of Celtic was still around and could more than do a job...if required. Interestingly, it was Lagerbielke via the Insta video who seemed to be advertising his wares for potential summer suitors or letting the pictures speak for themselves and let them fly in the face of the conventional wisdom and criticism surrounding him.

A lack of speed seems to be the go-to flaw in his game yet these clips emphasised his pace not lack of it and as if to hammer home the point it was no coincidence that the day he reached 33 kph in one clip was highlighted. The player himself in the montage was perhaps challenging the narratives that have built around him in Glasgow and which have totally overshadowed his Celtic career contributions thus far.

Nine appearances. 571 minutes. One goal. It does not amount to a hill of beans - does it? A move to Italian Serie A side Lecce was blocked in the 11th hour of the January transfer window as Celtic suffered yet another injury centre-back crisis as Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered another setback. Lagerbielke has not found game time forthcoming despite Carter-Vickers' absence with Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales being preferred by Brendan Rodgers for defensive roles.

It's a safe bet to say that Lagerbielke's future at Celtic looks bleak. However, there could be a silver lining even if he does leave in the summer. Whatever way you dress it up the neatly produced agency Instagram package was the online equivalent of a come-and-get-me plea.

What about the interview with a Swedish newspaper? Well, Lagerbielke touched on many issues; the breakdown in communication with Rodgers, his early promise, winning at Ibrox, as well as Celtic's reluctance to let him join Lecce.

READ MORE: Gustaf Lagerbeilke explains why his Celtic transfer exit was cancelled

The 23-year-old £3 million summer signing from Elfsborg said: "I really like Glasgow as a city and Celtic is a big club, which is noticeable. Especially when it comes to the audience, the stadium and everything around.

"I have great opportunities to develop here. I have good teammates and feel that I have their trust. It has been an instructive time here where I feel that I have developed. The only thing missing is playing time."

"No, I haven't really (spoke to the manager about a lack of game time). Right now I feel that I am really in the best shape of my life. I am much stronger and faster than ever and also mentally I have for a long time worked up a stable foundation that provides security.

"Of course, it's frustrating that I don't get to show it every week because I know I would have delivered. There's nothing else to do but to grind away and keep on going. Like I said, I like it here.

"I got to play the second day I arrived so I was thrown into it right away. Since then there has been tough competition and we win most of the games and there are very good players that I compete with. So I have to go for it and show that I will play.

"There were many interested clubs, but then an injury situation at the club meant that nothing happened.

"Right now the focus is on training as well as possible and continuing to show that I will play. We can still win the double, as we are fighting with Rangers for the league title and are still in the cup as well. So there are two titles to play for.

"I want to play and will do everything in my power to help the team. At the same time, I know I'm capable of playing in the top leagues so it's a situation we will review after the season."

The biggest irony in all of this is that Rodgers's shtick and something that he prides himself on is the area of player development. Yet the Northern Irishman seems to be at pains and a loss to explain what he can/will/is going to with a problem like Lagerbielke.

There is on the surface of it a potentially top-quality Swedish defender hidden in there. There is also a willingness to graft and a work ethic to put his head down and get on with and deal with whatever is thrown at him.

One might expect the Celtic boss to lap Lagerbielke's attitude and qualities up, especially when they belong to a young talented player who looks ripe for the development and progress treatment Rodgers style.

Now Rodgers gave a positive update on Carter-Vickers within the last 24 hours stating that the USA international is on the mend.

Rodgers said: “I spoke to Cam at length and he just feels everything is based around his knee operation.

"Also, when you have picked up a few injuries from that, you get that sensation and think it's linked to another injury. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be that.

"We've had the scan which has come through fine, he's done some work with the medical team and hopefully he will rejoin the training squad on Thursday and Friday.."

However, the focus of attention switched back to the central defensive pairing in the wake of Celtic's 4-2 Scottish Cup win over Livingston at Parkhead last Sunday. Rodgers partnered Liam Scales with Stephen Welsh at the back. However, the duo struggled to cope with the sheer physicality of the Lions' attack and were given a torrid time which will have been a major concern to the 51-year-old.

That is why Lagerbielke may well have timed his run to perfection by issuing a not-so-subtle reminder that he can still kick it. Yes, he can.

Celtic face St Johnstone and Livingston before the international break before facing Rangers at Ibrox on April 7, in what is already being billed as a potential league decider. Rodgers will certainly not want to go to Govan with a central defensive partnership of Scales and Welsh.

He was forced to field a makeshift defence at Ibrox when Kyogo Furuhashi's goal separated the sides back in September. Alongside Scales, Lagerbielke muddled through that day. He got away with one though when a Kemar Roofe goal was controversially ruled out after he had been dispossessed by Cyriel Dessers.

Rodgers never forgot that moment in a hurry. However, redemption could well be at hand for Lagerbielke.

A makeshift defence will work once at Ibrox. Twice is highly unlikely. Yet Lagerbielke still rates that victory in September against the Light Blues as a career-high and up there with the winning goal he bagged against Feyenoord in the Champions League group match at Celtic Park back in December.

READ MORE: Celtic's curious case of outgoing player Gustaf Lagerbielke

Lagerbielke said: "I got to experience a derby when we beat Rangers away. There were no away supporters at that game, so we had no supporters there. So when we scored a goal, the stadium was dead silent.

"It was pretty crazy considering the pressure there was up until our goal. It's probably the biggest game of my career, although the decisive goal in the Champions League was also a great feeling.

"The rivalry is constantly bubbling. There are certain areas that you shouldn't walk around here in Glasgow if you play for Celtic. Then there's a hateful atmosphere between the teams and you can see that."

Ironically it was the Ibrox encounter that turned out to be the making of the Republic of Ireland's international defender Scales.

As fate would have it the next chapter at Ibrox could well turn out to be Lagerbielke's turn to experience the dramatic turnaround in fortunes at Celtic just like Scales. Rodgers needs a plan to stop Rangers, that's for sure. If Carter-Vickers plays in Govan - which it appears that he will - then the $64,000 question is who partners the Colossus at the back of the pack?

Has Rodgers's trust gone with regards to both Scales and Welsh? The centre-back position could well be up for grabs in the coming weeks. The elusive search for game time could well end for Lagerbielke against St Johnstone at Celtic Park this weekend. It may have to if Rodgers has Ibrox on his mind. It would prove to be a popular decision among the faithful. Stranger things have happened.

After all, Lagerbielke is looking to not only make the Sweden squad for their round of March friendlies but he still harbours high hopes of being included in Jon Dahl Tomasson's line-up for Euro 2024. It's hard to achieve such lofty international ambitions when you are being starved of a regular diet of club football.

As Lagerbielke noted: "It will be very exciting with a new coach and see what ideas he has and what kind of football he wants to play. He's a former great player with enormous experience and he did well during his time at Malmo.

"The ambition is to contribute immediately and if I get the chance, I'm ready to take it right away. The competition is very tough and many of our centre-backs play regularly in Europe, so it's hard to get a place."

Lagerbielke knew exactly what he was doing by granting an interview to the Swedish press and putting up his Instagram post. If Rodgers thought that Lagerbielke's head was already out the exit door then nothing could be further from the truth and the player's words would have encouraged him greatly.

Maybe... just maybe Lagerbieke could be trusted and instructed to help the team in their quest for the remaining two pieces of silverware up for grabs.

There are two titles to play for. Celtic can still win the double. Lagerbielke is desperate to play and help the team achieve that end. Good on him.

A Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double?

A place in Jon Dahl Tomasson's Sweden squad for Euro 2024?

A redemption shot at Ibrox?

Regular game time for Celtic during the title run-in?

Swede Dreams (Are Made of This)... Lagerbielke just needs to hold his head up and keep moving on.