Ange Postecoglou has kickstarted Celtic 's pre-season without some of his regular starts returning to Lennoxtown ahead of jetting off for a training camp in Austria.
The Premiership champions are without some of their regular first-team starts with the likes of Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O'Riley, Josip Juranovic and Giorgios Giakoumakis missing out so far. That has opened the door for some of the forgotten squad players to make their case for a starting spot ahead of the new campaign, which will have Champions League group stage games added to the calendar.
But Postecoglou will be desperate to build on the Double-winning success of last season which saw them lift the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup. It may be a big ask but a fast start to the pre-season campaign can only help the squad in their bid to land success, with outcast striker Albian Ajeti now among the group trying to earn a spot in the side.
The former West Ham frontman has failed to live up to his £5million price tag and barely made a match day squad on Celtic's run to the title last season. However, he is back to work at Lennoxtown after not originally joining up with the squad on Monday.
Many had expected Ajeti to follow the likes of Vasilis Barkas out of Parkhead this summer but was back with his teammates. After just nine goals in his Celtic career it would take a massive turnaround to win back the Parkhead fans.
However, two players are yet to show up for pre-season casting doubt over their future at Celtic. Boli Bolingoli has been out of the picture since he left for Russian side FC Ufa on loan.
The temporary deal was cut short following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but the full-back did not report back to Lennoxtown and instead trained alone in his native Belgium. His absence has continued ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Big things had been expected of Ismailia Soro as he enjoyed a run in the starting line-up during Neil Lennon's final season in Glasgow's east end. However, it has been a different story under Postecoglou.
After a January move to Fortuna Sittard collapsed Soro has made one appearance for the side, coming in a two-minute cameo during the 3-0 win over Rangers on February 2. Having yet to turn up for pre-season, time looks to be up for the 24-year-old.
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