James McCarthy’s time at Celtic appears to be coming to an end, as manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the midfielder is set to leave the club. McCarthy, who signed a four-year deal with Celtic after leaving Crystal Palace in 2021, has struggled to make an impact at Parkhead, making just six starts for the team.

“It’s a real shame for James, because growing up he was obviously a Celtic supporter,”  Rodgers told SunSport. “I saw him a lot in the Premier League and he was a fantastic talent. He’s a great guy but sadly a few injuries and niggles have curtailed his time here so he’ll be looking to move on.”

McCarthy, 32, who previously played for Everton and Hamilton Accies, has faced a series of injuries that have hindered his progress at Celtic. The queue of players ahead of him in the pecking order has also contributed to his limited game time.

James had been linked with a move to Celtic throughout his whole career. There was a feeling the hoops would pick him up from Hamilton, but the EPL came calling. It felt like there was a rumour every transfer window about the midfielder potentially signing.

When he finally made the move, it was a deal born out of Celtic being in a mess and looking for numbers as they scrambled to put a team together with Ange just in the door. It was evident quickly James would not be able to play the style of football Ange was insisting the team played.

He’s been a forgotten man this summer, but it’s best for all involved if the he moves on.