Palma defends fringe man status, brutal Hatate honesty and £3m payday clears FFP hurdle – Celtic news bulletin

Winger Luis Palma has insisted that it is only injury that has put him down the pecking order at Celtic so far this season.

The Scottish Premiership champions were on the look-out for a winger in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, but reportedly knocked back bids for the Honduran before the deadline despite a lack of game time so far this season under Brendan Rodgers. The 24-year-old has made just two appearances coming off the bench but did start for his country in their CONCACAF Nations League victory over Trinidad and Tobago last weekend.

Going into Wednesday's clash with Jamaica, wide man Palma has insisted that he has endured a false start to the campaign due to injury after picking up a knock in Celtic's season opener against Kilmarnock. He told the media in his homeland: "Personally, my physical condition is not ideal due to the injury I suffered at the start of the season. However, the most important thing is for the national team to win rather than if I am playing or not. I am here to contribute what I can and my priority is the success of the team."

Another man on international duty this week is Reo Hatate - but he failed to even make the bench in last weekend's 7-0 rout of China. He will hope to make an appearance against Bahrain on Tuesday - but admitted that he has to raise his level to earn a spot in the starting line-up for his nation.

Speaking to Geki Saka, the brutally honest midfielder said: “It can't be helped that it's over, but I think my being left off is due to my lack of ability. If I had the ability, I would have been able to participate in the games and be a member of the team, so I think my lack of ability is the reason for this result.

"I think this result is due to my