John Kennedy insists forgotten man Jack Hendry could still have a future at Celtic.
The Hoops caretaker refused to rule out revisiting an agreement with Belgian side Oostende who are keen to take up the option to make his loan deal permanent this summer.
Hendry’s failure to cement a first team spot at Parkhead under Neil Lennon forced the defender to jump ship to the Jupiler Pro League where he’s been a hit for a side that sit fourth and are pushing for a Champions League spot.
It’s been a career revival which has placed the Scotland cap on the radar of Burnley, Wolves and Werder Bremen but Kennedy admits Celtic could be forced into a rethink when asked if the door remained opened for a return of a player who will still have one year to run on his contract.
He said: “Yes obviously. Jack came in for a period – it probably didn’t quite work out, he had periods in the team and periods not and then the decision came to put him out to play.
“I will be honest with you, I don’t know the details about the deal in terms of beyond the loan but Jack was at the stage where at his age and his stage of his career he had to get out and play.
“We had a number of centre backs who were ahead of him and he recognised that and that we had to come to an agreement to get him out playing.
“It is good that he has done well. We have kept in touch, I have spoken to him several times and he is enjoying himself and playing regularly. It was a decision made at the times based on what we had and where we saw it.
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“Again that will be something that will need to be addressed in the summer. I don’t think a decision will be made until then. It will depend on everybody’s situation and how things look and people’s opinions but a conversation will take place probably then.
“Until then he just has to continue to play, get the games under his belt and people will make that decision.
“Having spoken to him, I know game time is what he has enjoyed most.”
Kennedy’s immediate focus is on banking three points against Dundee United who they meet at Tannadice this lunchtime and he’s adamant building on last weekend’s win over Aberdeen and not auditioning for the job on a permanent basis occupies his mind.
He said: “I’m honestly not taking myself into consideration because if I start doing that, it becomes about me. It becomes about me showing myself and that might not be what’s right for the team and the club at this time. Everything I do is what I think is the right thing for now, and I’ll do that the best I possibly can.
"In terms of auditioning, I’ve been here for a period of time. I know how the club works, how the people work within it. I’ve very much had a great time here, but for this time I’ve got to very much focus on what I need to do on a daily basis and leading into games, and do what I think is the right thing for everyone. And just park my own ambition, my own ego to the side and deal with what comes my way.
“I’ve spoken to both Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond over the last week and a bit and they’ve been great, very supportive.
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“They understand the position we are in.
“Ultimately when things don’t go so well at a club this size then people go for victims, they go on the attack and ‘what’s the problem’. They are experienced guys, they have the club at heart and ultimately will make the right decisions for the club.
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"Again, I’ve got to follow that as well and just continue to do that. And everybody needs to get on board with that at the club, and they have been.
“You can fall away, and feel sorry for yourselves and write everything off, but life goes on, the club goes on, and we’ve got to get back to the levels we know we are capable of.”