How has it come to this for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, some of the gifted and embellished England internationals of his technology?
Right here, in spite of everything, is a midfielder whose precocious expertise as a youngster at Southampton went on to earn him a full home of English trophies.
In six years with Arsenal and 6 with Liverpool, there was additionally a Champions League winner’s medal and 35 caps for his nation.
And but now, on the age of 33, he finds himself struggling to get video games for a Celtic facet who’re a shadow of their former selves, particularly in Europe.
Used solely sparingly this season, the Ox was given a uncommon begin towards Falkirk yesterday, when he was most well-liked to Benjamin Nygren.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill stated he wanted somebody with expertise to deal with the ball however the Englishman was substituted 65 minutes right into a 2-0 defeat.
Celtic midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was given a uncommon begin within the defeat by Falkirk
The Englishman has made solely eight appearances in Martin O’Neill’s group this season
It won’t have escaped Oxlade-Chamberlain’s discover that former membership Besiktas are Celtic’s subsequent opponents within the Europa League on Thursday evening.
The midfielder’s current travails might be traced again to his transfer to Turkey in 2023, after Liverpool deemed him surplus to necessities.
His first few months at Besiktas went nicely sufficient, however he was quickly sidelined by damage, as he had incessantly been at Anfield, and his profession in Turkey was already on the slide.
Involved by his health and his wage, Besiktas wished to dump him however he stayed one other season and located himself frozen out by supervisor Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was extra prepared to present him alternatives, his contract was terminated in July and it wasn’t till the next February that he discovered one other membership.
That membership was Celtic, so tormented by crises on and off the pitch that they have been glad to safe him on a short-term deal, even when he was slightly rusty.
Oxlade-Chamberlain made all the correct noises, describing Celtic because the ‘good match’, the type of membership whose measurement and expectation he was used to.
And positive sufficient, he scored a late winner on his debut towards Livingston and helped his new group to a double, albeit essentially the most troubled one of their lengthy historical past. He then signed a one-year contract extension and spoke of wanting ahead to his first correct pre-season in three years.
Oxlade-Chamberlain gained the Premier League and Champions League in his time at Liverpool
It hasn’t carried out him a lot good. To date, he has made solely eight appearances, 4 of them from the beginning. O’Neill appears loath to rotate a midfield wherein Callum McGregor is over-used.
You may’t have the world at your ft endlessly, however slightly extra recreation time was anticipated for a participant who is 2 years youthful than James Forrest.
Possibly all these accidents have caught up with him. Possibly his taking part in model isn’t greatest suited to the ageing course of. In his prime, he was explosive, robust and adept at breaking the strains, whereas now the precedence is to remain match.
Or maybe he’s simply one other sufferer of the Celtic curse that befalls Premier League stars who enterprise north within the twilight of their careers.
From Middlesbrough’s Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho, to Arsenal greats Ian Wright and Freddie Ljungberg, there are quite a lot of who’ve come a cropper in Glasgow’s east finish.
Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t in that class, however he has work to do if his veteran stardust is to have any likelihood of disguising the deep-rooted issues at Celtic Park. He wants an opportunity, and he must take it… sooner somewhat than later.
