Nigerian defender could potentially leave Glasgow Celtic on loan in January

Scottish Premiership giants Glasgow Celtic are set to make a transfer decision on former Dream Team VII invitee Osaze Urhoghide before the close of the January transfer window.

Manager of the Hoops, Ange Postecoglou has hinted that the Dutch-Nigerian center-back and Liam Shaw could be better off going out on loan in the winter to continue their development.

Since his celebrated move to Celtic from Sheffield Wednesday in the close season, Urhoghide has yet to make his competitive debut and his only appearance for a Celtic team was against Morton in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Urhoghide has not been picked in the last eight Premiership matchday squads, an indication that he is not in the plans of Postecoglou and unlikely to make his league debut soon.

The Australian football tactician was asked about the futures of Urhoghide and Shaw during a media briefing on Monday.

Responding to 67hailhail.com, Postecoglou said : "Osaze and Liam – it was difficult for them in the fact that sometimes when you bring in young players, and they were certainly brought in as development players, it’s much easier to bring them in when the team is settled.

"Obviously we brought them in at a time when a lot of new players were in the team and finding their way. Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to find a lot of game time for them."

He added : "It’s about getting them the right opportunity now. That may be here, it may be a loan deal somewhere but we’ll make those decisions come January.

"We’ll sit down with the boys and see what the best way forward is. I believe they are improving, working hard and have a great attitude."

It is not easy for Urhoghide to break into Celtic's starting lineup with international players such as Cameron Carter-Vickers (United States), Carl Starfelt (Sweden) and Nir Bitton (Israel) ahead of him in the pecking order of central defenders.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel