Luis Palma reminded Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers of his quality with a hat-trick in a mid-season friendly against Sligo Rovers on Wednesday night.
The Honduras international, who has fallen down the pecking order recently, delivered a late-game masterclass, scoring in the 89th and 90+ minutes to complete a turnaround victory for the visitors.
Following the match, Palma took to Instagram, sharing Celtic’s full-time post and simply captioned it: “Thanks,” along with a few emojis.
He’s typically had quite a presence on social media, but he’s coming across more reserved in this post.
His father had said that he was coming off social media apps, but he’s resurfaced with this post.
This time last year, Palma was a rising star for the Hoops, with memorable moments like his dramatic winner against Motherwell at Fir Park. Palma also contributed two of Celtic’s five Champions League goals last season, and by Christmas, he looked like a solid summer signing. However, his form—along with the team’s—dropped during the winter months, and an injury in March further derailed his season.
While last night’s friendly hat-trick may not carry the same weight as his goals in the Champions League, it was crucial for Palma to send a message to Rodgers. With Celtic’s wingers frequently rotated during matches, Palma still has opportunities to impress.
Palma’s performance against Sligo could be the spark he needs to regain form and stake his claim in Rodgers’ plans before the season’s end.
