Joel van den Berg Returns to Celtic Training

There is finally some positive news surrounding Joel van den Berg, with the young midfielder back in training at Celtic after an injury-hit start to life in Glasgow.

The 19-year-old arrived from PSV Eindhoven during the summer with plenty of potential, but Celtic supporters have barely had the opportunity to see what he can offer.

Van den Berg was named on the bench shortly after arriving, only for an injury to disrupt his progress. He was subsequently spotted wearing a protective boot, raising concerns about how long he could be sidelined.

His return to training is therefore an encouraging development, particularly given the questions surrounding Celtic’s midfield performances this season.

There had even been speculation about a possible January loan move if he struggled to find first-team minutes. However, the immediate priority has always been getting him fit and giving him the opportunity to settle into Martin O’Neill’s squad.

Personally, I am keen to see what Van den Berg can bring to this Celtic side. We have lacked consistency in midfield, and the youngster deserves a chance to show why the club invested in him.

Of course, returning to training does not automatically mean he is ready to play, and we should not rush him back before he is fully fit.

But after such a frustrating start to his Celtic career, seeing him back on the training pitch is a welcome step forward.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of Van den Berg finally getting his Celtic career up and running.