Everything Happens For A Reason

Nir Bitton knows the importance of level-headedness during downtime forced by injury, and can’t wait to get back to business ASAP

- Joe Donnelly

Against Riga in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, Nir Bitton breezed through his defensive duties on the right of a back three. Against Hibs the following Sunday, the Israeli internationalist again impressed with a series of well-timed tackles, great vision and impeccable passing from the back, which helped instigate attacks at the opposite end of the pitch throughout.

Despite starting lively against FK Sarajevo last week, the 28-year-old’s night in Zenica was cut short, when he rolled his ankle and was replaced by countryman Hatem Elhamed in the game’s opening five minutes. Odsonne Edouard’s 70th-minute strike helped Celtic secure progression to the Europa League’s group stage, and while disappointed to pick up an early injury, Bitton took to Instagram thereafter to praise his team-mates and signal his intentions moving forward. “Well done lads,” read the defender’s social media post after the match. “Hopefully be back quick. And remember… Everything happens for a reason.” Bitton’s enlightened state of mind likely stems from the extensive injury he suffered towards the end of 2017 – when a seemingly innocuous knee injury required surgery and ruled him out of contention for close to 12 months. At the time, Bitton told the Celtic View he endured some of the darkest days of his professional career, that he was occasionally brought to tears and often struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In turn, he now savours every minute he spends on the pitch like never before – a desire which burns even brighter in the wake of subsequent knocks, such as the one he now faces.