Egypt do Celtic a big favour with Haissem Hassan decision
Egypt have done Celtic a big favour by deciding to send winger Haissem Hassan back to Glasgow early from international duty.
Hassan is an important player for Egypt, as he proved during the World Cup over the summer, and he has been playing for the African nation as they drew with Angola and beat South Sudan in their first two games of their African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Hassan played 52 minutes of the second of those before being brought off, and then when Egypt decided to send them home ahead of Sunday's friendly with South Africa, there will have been some concern over the attacker's fitness.
But Ahram Online report that Hassan was one of a number of important players to have been excused from the game against South Africa. The Egyptian nation know it has been a demanding time for their starters, who reached the Round of 16 of the World Cup and then had to return for club action just a weeks later, and without a normal pre-season.
Hassan was allowed to return to Glasgow ahead of that South Africa game, and he will get a couple of days off before resuming training with the Bhoys ahead of this weekend's clash with Motherwell.
It has been a very busy time for Hassan, both for the reasons mentioned and the fact he had to move clubs and move home, which is not an easy process. You also add in the early Champions League qualifiers and the way they panned out, which was stressful to say the least.
Celtic need to see more from Hassan
It will be hoped that the recovery time will help Hassan reach his full fitness. The winger has struggled to produce for 90 minutes at this point, seemingly lacking in fitness.
He looked sharp with some of his movement early on, and he provided some useful deliveries, but like many of his teammates, his form has dipped of late.
Hassan needs to have the confidence to run at players and take them on. He is capable of that, and being a player who is realistically of a better standard than the Scottish Premiership, playing LaLiga football last season, he can beat most defenders at this level.
It just comes down to belief and having the licence to lose the ball and keep trying, which not all managers afford their wingers, especially when the team's form is not in a good place.
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