'Did I get a fair opportunity?' - Celtic outcast has say on club's haphazard season and national team hopes

Celtic defender Jack Hendry has questioned whether he was given a “fair opportunity" at Celtic before being sent on loan to Australia and Belgium.

Jack Hendry has questioned whether he was given enough of a chance at Celtic

The 25-year-old signed for the Hoops in January 2018 but has made just 27 appearances and in January last year joined Melbourne City on loan, only to suffer a knee ligament injury during his second appearance.

Henry then joined Belgian side KV Oostende in the summer of 2020 and has helped De Kustboys to a surprising fourth in the table, just two points off second-placed Antwerp.

HIs performances for the Flemish side have already seen him linked with Brighton, Burnley, and Sheffield United.

The defender has been in impressive form for KV Oostende

But the former Dundee centre-back admits it has been tough watching his parent club struggle this season – particularly in defence.

Speaking to Sky Sports Hendry said: “Watching from afar this season it's not been easy, because obviously it's been a difficult season for them, and of course the way that I'm playing at the minute I think I could have had a real good impact on the side.”

Conceding he was disappointed with how things had panned out at Parkhead, Hendry added: “First of all, I've got to look at myself, how that happened and how it didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to.

"But at the same time you've got to ask questions like, 'did I get as fair an opportunity as maybe I should have?'

“Coming back this pre-season I needed to kick on; I needed to do something with my career because it was just potential.

"I was really determined to go and show people I was a good footballer and I was at [Celtic] for that reason.

"With the tough years I had [at Celtic], it's made me a lot mentally tougher, I think it's made me a better person and I've come through the other side of it.

"Now, having a good run of games, I want to play at that level again. I want to push myself, I just feel that I needed my confidence back and my mojo back.”

With the European Championships on the horizon, Hendry – who already has three international caps – isn’t giving up hope of forcing his way into Steve Clarke’s thoughts. The fact the national team often plays in a system not too dissimilar to the formation utilised by Oostende boss Alexander Blessin is an added bonus.

“Playing in a three at my club hopefully helps me with the international scene because it's something that I'm striving towards,” Henry revealed.

"It was my biggest achievement so far playing for Scotland and I'm desperate to pull that shirt on again because you've got to make the most of it when it does come around.

"One of my goals this season was to get recognised on the international scene again. I feel that my ability can more than handle that level and I feel like I've shown that at Oostende.

"I feel that I could add value and I've been working very hard during this season, in the off-season, to put myself in a position where I could possibly say to myself that I might be worthy of it.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.