Sources: Celtic coaches expect £3.5m man to explode into life next season
Celtic coaches are expecting January signing Patryk Klimala to become a huge asset next season when he has a full pre-season under his belt.
The centre-forward, 21, has made just one start and only four appearances since his £3.5million winter-window arrival.
A Celtic source has told Football Insider that Neil Lennon and his staff are convinced Klimala can explode into life next season and be a regular matchwinner.
The Hoops have returned to pre-season training at their Lennoxtown headquarters and have been mainly working on fitness drills.
Klimala is set to be one of those to benefit from the programme devised by Lennon and his staff.
They believe the striker, who does not turn 22 until August, has a big role to play even if Odsonne Edouard does stay.
The newly-crowned Scottish player of the year is the first choice at Parkhead and he was paired regularly with Leigh Griffiths in the two months before the mid-March lockdown.
Klimala had become a virtual forgotten man since he was initially given a run of games following his move from Polish top-tier side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
He made four appearances in late January and early February, including a start in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Clyde that saw him register his first assist in a Hoops shirt.
Edouard and Griffiths were subsequently impossible to dislodge from a side that won drew and drew the other of its 10 SPL matches since Klimala's arrival.
He is likely to bide his time but the coaches are convinced there will be plenty of opportunities for him once the new season gets underway.
Klimala signed for Celtic after scoring seven league goals in 17 matches in Poland in the first half of the campaign.