Celtic loanee Marco Tilio has made an instant impact on his return to Melbourne City, scoring just two minutes into their A-League opener against Newcastle Jets.

The 22-year-old winger’s early strike proved to be the match-winner, sealing a perfect start to the season for the Australian side.

.@MelbourneCity score inside TWO MINUTES of the new season – and it’s Marco Tilio! 🤯

📺 Watch #NEWvMCY live NOW on Paramount+ and 10 Bold /10 Play pic.twitter.com/5MdGbzo77B

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 19, 2024

Tilio, who signed a five-year deal with Celtic last summer, was loaned back to Melbourne City for the 2024-25 season after limited opportunities under Brendan Rodgers. He managed only two appearances for the Scottish champions but will be looking to rediscover his best form back in his homeland.

Capped seven times for Australia, Tilio was signed by Celtic for an undisclosed fee, which was reported to be a record for an A-League player. His early goal in the A-League suggests he’s ready to hit the ground running and continue developing while on loan.

Brendan Rodgers tried to get the winger in the building for pre-season with the Hoops, but Tilio rejected the opportunity, and opted to remain in his homeland on loan.

His start to life at Celtic was marred with injuries, arriving at the club with a niggle.

The longer time goes on without a Celtic return, you fear the chances of him making it in Glasgow are slimming.