Luis Palma's best Celtic trick is like running into Kingston Bridge at rush hour but take note how he treats club

International breaks should be a chance for club managers to switch off for a few days and take a step back from the twice weekly dugout tension.

Should, being the word. In reality, these fortnights are a nightmare for gaffers. It’s like sending the toddler into the soft play on their own for the first time. You want them to have fun – but not to come back with a broken leg or suffering a meltdown after falling out with the other kids.

Like the weans, sometimes they can come back with a smile and the kid of mood they can take back to nursery. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers might need to dish out hugs to the likes of Liam Scales and Arne Engels after some sore ones for Ireland and Belgium. But there could be a high five in store for others – like Luis Palma. The Honduran has become a bit of a forgotten man at Parkhead. He’s barely managed three hours of football all season and has slipped to unused sub status more often than not. It’s getting difficult to see a long term future for the winger at the club.

Yet perhaps his latest trip home could give him the boost required for another crack at Celtic. You’d need to have a heart of stone not to want to see the kid managed to turn it around, given the attitude he’s shown. Usually when players who are struggling with their clubs head off around the globe on international duty, their local media are keen to get into the nitty gritty over the why they are not getting game time.

These guys have the entire planet in their pocket with smart phones these days yet can still be surprised when their words get back to the nations of their employers. That’s when the old ‘lost in translation’ excuse comes out. We heard it last week with Kenneth Vargas, with the Hearts man doing the text book