"YOU only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime."

Sure, those are the words of Marshall Mathers, AKA Eminem, that have been chanted in arenas and stadiums around the world for nearly 20 years.

It seems it was also the Ange Postecoglou induced sentiment with which Boli Bolingoli trotted onto the field of play last month before Celtic's 1-0 defeat to Livingston; a poor afternoon overall for Celtic and every player that participated in the game, but not one in which the Belgian absolutely disgraced himself.

Celtic have suffered from injuries this season in many outfield positions and left-back is one they're dealing with at the moment after Greg Taylor's shoulder operation. Josip Juranovic, the right-back who was the second choice left-back at the same time, is also injured for the next wee while meaning two of the players immediately in front of Bolingoli in the queue wouldn't be picked ahead of him.

Liam Scales was signed from Shamrock Rovers at the end of the transfer window but in almost typical Celtic fashion, the new signing "isn't ready" to play yet despite having participated in a full pre-season and European qualifiers with his former club. Adam Montgomery, the 19-year-old enjoying a breakthrough season and who said in July his preferred position was left-back rather than left wing, is the young man of the moment for Postecoglou and the one reducing Bolingoli to nothing more than a squad player, despite being a round peg for the round hole on the left side of Celtic's four-man defence.

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Bolingoli's misdemeanour last season was a shocking error of judgement. Celtic fans are aware of his actions and were happy to see him shipped out on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir during what was, through the majority of their eyes, the club's most important league season since 1997-98.

Since Bolingoli jumped on his ill-timed flight to Spain during the coronavirus pandemic, that season, a manager, a chief executive, a Champions League campaign and two domestic trophies have come and gone. Ten players of note moved on throughout this year's summer and 12 players joined the first team from other clubs.

Bolingoli's shot at redemption hasn't truly come... but looks like it's gone.
If his one shot was the defeat at Almondvale, well, it's hard not to sympathise with him. His exclusion from the Europa League group squad suggested as much; his exclusion from matchday involvement against Dundee United and Aberdeen pretty much confirms it.

Against Livi, Bolingoli won more than half of his defensive duels, recovered the ball almost twice as often as he lost it and had a 95 per cent success rate for passes into the final third. For his first involvement in a competitive game for 14 months, since his three-minute and ill-fated cameo at Rugby Park, he did fine. He wasn't superb, but on a day when Celtic were flat throughout, he was fine. It's clear he's not done enough to warrant further consideration though it's hard to fairly speculate on his midweek application, attitude or relationship with Postecoglou.

It's a very confusing situation though; The Belgian played six Champions League group stage matches during his Turkish loan spell, including 90 minutes in a victory over Manchester United. His CV comfortably trumps those of whom he's 'competing' with for the left-back spot but judging by his manager's post-match comments after the Aberdeen game, the competition's about as close as the 1974 Eurovision song contest. It's Bolingoli though, and not a Swedish quartet, who's now begging someone to take a chance on them.

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“For him [Montgomery] and Tony Ralston, this is their first sort of steps in senior football for Celtic." Postecoglou said on Monday. "We knew it was going to be tough going for Monty this year. With Greg Taylor out and Liam Scales not quite ready yet he was the one that we were going to rely on."

Does the Australian see Bolingoli as an unreliable option then? His consistent expulsion can only be truly explained by two people and Celtic aren't going to put one of them in particular up for a presser anytime soon. 

His lack of involvement, surely, has to be down to Postecoglou's opinion of him since taking the job this summer and what he's seen since then, it would be unfair for Bolingoli to suffer this season because of his actions last August.

Everyone makes mistakes, but how you respond to them and atone for them is what matters. Perhaps he's shown no sign of remorse for his actions, around a squad he alienated himself from at the time. He certainly owes them and the Celtic fans, but he's hardly being given the chance to right his wrongs.

Maybe Postecoglou just doesn't rate him, and those are the opinions and decisions managers are paid to make based on their best judgement. If his lack of game-time is down to what happened last August, then what happened to second chances?