WHEN he checked in as Gordon Strachan's first signing back on June 22, Mo Camara must have thought he was in as one of the foundation stones of a revamped Celtic squad.
Instead, the Guinean has recently found himself shunted to the periphery. Yesterday, he turned out for the reserves in his first match action since being dropped by Strachan after Dunfermline's 1-0 victory at Parkhead on November 26.
Ross Wallace has been remoulded into a left-back for Celtic's last seven first-team games and there are further reasons why a modicum of doubt must be placed against Camara's future, despite his contract still having 18 months to run.
Wayne Bridge, out of favour at Chelsea, has been linked with a loan move to Parkhead while Ray Clarke, Celtic's chief scout, is thought to be assembling a list of alternative left-back options for Strachan.
One of those could be Peter Halmosi of Debrecen, who arrived to train with the club on on Monday. Although primarily a midfielder, Halmosi has played left-back for Hungary. His agent, Mihaly Laczko, has claimed that the framework of a two-and-a-half year contract has been agreed in principle and also that the asking price would be lower than the GBP1.4m originally being sought.
However, Camara is nothing if not determined. After helping the second string to a 2-1 win over Dundee United he expressed confidence that he will regain his manager's faith.
"I don't know what decisions the manager is taking about new players coming in, " said the defender. "The last time I spoke to him he told me that I wasn't going anywhere - not to any club that came in. He told me face-to-face and has always been honest with me.
"If a left-back comes in then he would have to fight for his place. I'm not scared of anybody. If Paolo Maldini came in, then I would still fight."
It is the timing of his banishment that confuses Camara. Strachan kept faith with him through the disastrous start to his Celtic career against Artmedia Bratislava but, after a run of improvement, he was ditched following a hesitant display against Dunfermline.
"I'm a bit surprised because when I first came to Celtic and wasn't doing well, I wasn't dropped, " said the 30-year-old. "After I started playing well, I've been dropped. But that's life sometimes.
"The manager told me he wanted to try a different system and he is the boss.
"The manager has been great with me since I came to Celtic and has helped me so much. He stood behind me at the start and right now I have to respect his decision."
Yesterday's outing in Airdrie was at least a chance for Camara to boost his match fitness after an idle festive period. "It was good to be back in action because it has been a long time, six or seven weeks, since I played, " he said. "I'm still positive because I know how football goes. It's the first time I've been dropped from the first team but I'm still working hard for my place again."
Stoke City were this week credited with an interest in taking Camara back to the Coca-Cola Championship seven months after he left from Burnley on a Bosman transfer. It is a link he was quick to scorn.
"I have heard nothing, " he said. "My contract at Celtic is for two years and want to get back into the team. If I was to take a decision that I wanted to leave Celtic then I would speak to the manager about it." Right now, all Camara wants to hear is a recall from Strachan.
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