Celtic have allowed January signing Maryan Shved to remain with Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv until the summer despite an agreement which should see the 21-year-old back to Glasgow.
Kaparty boss Fabriciano Penelas told the Daily Record, who state that Shved was only meant to remain until the end of his club’s cup campaign: “Maryan is a very important member of the squad and we are delighted he will be with us for a longer time.”
Having lost to Inhulets on penalties, Shved was set to make his way to his parent club – and it is surely a real blunder that the Bhoys have pulled this significant u-turn and allowed him to remain in Ukraine.
Why is it such a mistake?
Having signed for the Bhoys back in the January window, Shved has not had a taste of Scottish football, instead being shipped back to his former side on loan.
While getting game time under his belt is important for his development, it will take time to adapt to the demands of Scotland’s top flight, which is likely to be a lot more physical and demanding than what the future Hoops star is accustomed to.
It seemed as though the Bhoys had come up with a savvy plan of action, giving him the chance to pick up domestic silverware in the form of the Ukrainian Cup before returning to Glasgow to set his roots at Parkhead ahead of next season.
It cannot be easy settling into a new club from overseas and that is why Shved joining the Bhoys for the last few weeks of the season, getting comfortable with both the style and demands of Scottish football as well as getting to know his future teammates, would have been a big boost for his development.
Instead he will be coming in cold over the summer, having missed out on the chance to become part of the dressing room.
What next for Shved?
Not only would his return to Celtic Park at this stage have helped him settle in, it would have given Neil Lennon and the Hoops staff a chance to judge his talent in training and set out a plan for him ahead of the summer.
They could have easily decided whether he would be good enough to play his part in the first team or whether another loan spell would do him some good – instead they will now have to wait until summer, when there will be more pressing matters at hand.
Shved should have returned to Celtic this month – his future could suffer as a result.