Celtic loanee Gustaf Lagerbielke has admitted his frustration at his lack of playing time since joining Dutch side FC Twente in the summer.

The Swedish centre-back, who arrived in Enschede seeking regular minutes to develop his game, has only made four appearances so far – a reality far from what he envisioned when he left Glasgow.

Despite Lagerbielke’s hopes for more opportunities on the pitch, the situation at Twente has left him sidelined.

His chances have been limited as the Dutch outfit have enjoyed a strong start to the season. Their current defensive set-up performs well, leaving little room for change.

Lagerbielke openly acknowledged the challenge he’s facing due to the form of his teammates in the same position: “Of course, I have been frustrated because I want to play for Twente since my loan move from Celtic,” he said (The Scottish Sun).

“But I have had to accept; the team are playing well, and the guys in my position have been excellent.”

This struggle is common for players on loan who hope to find consistent playing time only to encounter stiff competition. Lagerbielke’s situation, however, seems particularly difficult as his primary reason for leaving Celtic temporarily was to get the minutes he wasn’t finding in Glasgow. Now, he finds himself in a similar position in the Netherlands.

“Waiting for your chance is the hardest thing as a footballer, but that’s how it works,” he admitted. “When the chance comes, I have to be ready.”

The 24-year-old defender is determined to make the most of his time in the Eredivisie, even if that means biding his time.

Lagerbielke’s professionalism and readiness to step in if called upon will be crucial as he looks to make an impression before returning to Celtic.