We all know Tom Rogic is adored by those in Glasgow green and white.
The Caltex Socceroo has been a big factor in maintaining Celtic’s domestic dominance in Scotland, and he’s collected eight trophies in total since joining the Bhoys in 2013.
But how is the Wizard of Oz faring this season?
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Progress report
Name: Tom Rogic
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
Caltex Socceroos record: 41 appearances
Club: Celtic
Division: Scottish Premiership
Role
Rogic has long been entrusted with the keys to Celtic’s attacking engine.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has flitted across formations this season, but Rogic’s position in a central attacking midfield role is one of the constants.
That allows the Canberra-born Caltex Socceroo a licence to roam and drift as he has done so gracefully throughout his career.
Flanked by two pacey, aggressive wingers in the likes of James Forrest, Scott Sinclair and Callum McGregor and supported by cast of combative midfield compatriots, Rogic enjoys a starring role in the Celtic line up.
Form
It’s no secret that Rodgers’ side have started the new season in underwhelming fashion considering their lofty standards.
Celtic were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by AEK Athens in August and commenced their league season with two shock defeats to Hearts and Kilmarnock in their first six matches.
Rogic has performed under an injury cloud throughout this time, only completing 90 minutes twice across all competitions and frequently being withdrawn following the hour mark and featuring as a substitute.
The stop-start nature of Celtic’s early form this year can be in some way attributed to Rogic’s inconsistency of minutes, and his absences have highlighted how heavily Rodgers’ side rely on the former Central Coast Mariner to wed midfield and attack.
But with Rogic coming back into full fitness, Celtic have won three on the bounce in the league and are now back in second place. He recently laid on a hat-trick of assists in the side’s 6-0 thumping of St. Johnstone and fired in his second goal of the campaign – a classic left-footed curler from the edge of the box - in last weekend’s 4-2 win over Hibernian.
Key performance
James Forrest might’ve stolen the headlines in Celtic’s 6-0 win over St. Johnstone a fortnight ago after scoring four goals in 30 first half minutes.
But it was a match that saw Rogic offer a masterclass of midfield play. Deployed in a deeper role in a midfield three, the Celtic wizard stood head and shoulders above most on the pitch.
He delivered three assists and was near untouchable before his 69th minute withdrawal.
Caltex Socceroos prospects
Six years ago, Graham Arnold handed Rogic his professional footballing debut at the Mariners.
With the pair now united on the Caltex Socceroos front, the playmaker is likely to be one of Arnold’s key players in the side’s AFC Asian Cup defence and beyond.
