Marco Tilio’s time at Celtic has been far from smooth. The Australian winger joined the Scottish champions last summer, but injuries and a lack of form saw him struggle to make an impact under Brendan Rodgers.
With just two brief appearances to his name, Tilio returned to Melbourne City on loan earlier this year, hoping to rediscover his rhythm in more familiar surroundings.
The 23-year-old seemed to be on track, impressing with a goal against Newcastle Jets early in the A-League campaign.
But his fortunes took another turn for the worse last week. During Melbourne City’s clash with Western United, Tilio was forced off the pitch, clutching his hamstring.
The extent of his injury was unclear at first, but a recent report from ESPN has shed light on the severity of the problem. Tilio has suffered a partial tear to his left hamstring tendon and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Melbourne City, the report adds, are taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
“They’re likely to be conservative with his return date,” the source revealed, as the club aims to avoid further setbacks in what has been a challenging period for the player.
This latest injury blow means Tilio will almost certainly miss out on national team duties with Australia until at least the New Year.
Tilio’s ambitions of breaking back into the Celtic fold also hang in the balance. Last month, he admitted that his immediate focus was on regular football in Australia.
“I just want to play consistent games, do really well and put myself in a really good position to either return to Scotland or go on loan elsewhere in Europe,” he said.
But with injury concerns continuing to plague him, a long-term future at Parkhead seems increasingly uncertain. For now, Tilio’s priority will be regaining full fitness and proving his worth at Melbourne City.
Celtic fans will be hoping their man can turn the tide. Tilio’s talent is evident, but he needs a sustained run of games to showcase it. If he can overcome his injury woes, a return to Europe might still be on the cards. However, for both player and club, patience is running thin.