Out-of-favour Celtic ace signalled out as weak link by manager after disappointing international defeat
The 24-year-old has only started one league match for Celtic this season
Honduras manager Reinaldo Rueda believes that Celtic winger Luis Palma’s lack of game time and fitness was ultimately exposed by Mexico in his side’s most recent Concacaf Nations League defeat.
Palma was the star of the show in the first leg between the two sides at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés. The 24-year-old was subbed on in the 63rd minute and reminded Hoops fans of his qualities with a second half brace as Honduras ran out 2-0 winners.
However, during the second leg at the Estadio Nemesio Díez, he went from hero to zero and was heavily criticised by his coach for a weak second half display as Mexico ran out 4-0 winners.
Speaking after the match, Rueda pointed the finger at Palma for a weak performance. He told Deportes TVC, “For all we know from the previous match at the Azteca, the altitude is hard for Luis when he comes with rhythm and today without rhythm it was going to be harder for him.
“He played a good half but the full-back he had overcame him and he was left alone with Rosales and that’s where Mexico attacked us a lot.
“We had Obregón, who is a striker, a goal scorer, and to stop that full-back and the offensive depth to accompany Yustin Arboleda, but unfortunately he didn’t get into the game and was unbalanced.”
Palma was hooked at halftime after being given the nod to start for Honduras against Mexico and left the field at a time when the score was still 1-0.
Rated at 6.2 by Fotmob, the Celtic winger was largely anonymous in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. He touched the ball just 13 times and was only able to complete three successful passes out of the four he attempted.
The Celtic winger didn’t create any chances and was not able to produce any shots on goal in a lacklustre half of football.
Palma has played just 98 minutes of Premiership football this term and has been limited to just one start all season which came in a 2-0 victory over Dundee.
Across all competitions, he has played nine times but is yet to produce a single goal or an assist.