Celtic loanee Marco Tilio has had a hard time out on loan at Melbourne City, missing 10 A-League games this season due to a hamstring injury.

With Tilio re-joining Melbourne on loan in February last year after struggling for game time in Glasgow, following his move to Celtic from Melbourne in June 2023, he had hoped to gain consistent minutes in his homeland.

However, his future at Celtic appears to be on hold for the time being, with Tilio reportedly rejecting a return and opting to stay with Melbourne City on loan rather than return to Celtic for pre-season.

Since making the move back to Australia, Tilio has made just 12 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals. Injuries have largely contributed to his limited game time.

Tilio scored in the Melbourne Derby at the weekend in a 2-2 draw, showing that he is on the right track back to the form that previously earned him a move to Glasgow in 2023.

He is a player who brought a lot of excitement given his impressive spell in his homeland. However, it has yet to materialise at Celtic.

In the summer, he will have the chance to get a full pre-season under his belt with Brendan Rodgers in what could be his final opportunity to impress the Irishman.

If he can finish the A-League season in top form and build momentum, there’s no reason why he can’t still become a part of Rodgers’ plans for next season.

It has been largely frustrating for Tilio over the last 18 months, as injuries have prevented him from making an immediate impact at Celtic. However, he is clearly an exciting winger who has the potential to bring the spark that Hoops wingers so often provide.