There was a time when everything about this move felt like a fresh start.
New country. New league. New energy.
For Celtic, sending Maik Nawrocki out on loan looked like the perfect reset. Away from the stop start rhythm of his time in Glasgow, away from the questions around fitness, away from the frustration of never quite getting a consistent run.
And for a while, it worked.
In Germany, with Hannover 96, Nawrocki began to rebuild. The performances were solid. The confidence returned. The connection with the fans grew quickly, especially after that derby moment against Eintracht Braunschweig where he delivered a winner that instantly made him feel like one of their own.
It felt like momentum.
It felt like this was finally the version of Nawrocki people had been waiting to see.
But with him, there has always been a “but”.
Because just as things begin to settle, just as the rhythm builds, something always interrupts the story.
And that is where the concern starts creeping back in.
Even this week, Nawrocki had been speaking openly about his situation. There was a sense of comfort in his words. A hint that being back in Germany, close to family, suited him more than life in Scotland ever did.
You could almost feel a decision forming in the background.
A potential permanent move. A quiet ending to his Celtic chapter.
But then came Saturday.
Hannover were doing their job, pushing forward in their bid to return to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2019. A 2-0 win away to Darmstadt was another big step.
Except the result was not the main story.
Not anymore.
Early in the second half, Nawrocki went down.
At first, it did not seem too serious. Treatment on the pitch. A pause in play. The kind of moment players often shake off.
But this time, he could not continue.
Substituted. Another injury. Another setback.
And suddenly, everything changes again.
Because this is not just one incident. This is a pattern.
This latest issue marks his fourth injury layoff of the season. Four separate interruptions. Four moments where progress has been stopped just as it was beginning to build.
And when you look closer, it becomes even more concerning.
There was the tendonitis that delayed his debut. The muscle problems in December. The strange back issue in February that came from something as simple as getting dressed at home.
Now this.
Individually, they might seem like bad luck.
Together, they tell a different story.
For Hannover, this is where the dilemma begins. They have an option to make the move permanent for around £2 million. On paper, it looks like an opportunity. A player who has shown quality, who has connected with the fans, who has delivered in big moments.
But football is rarely that simple.
Because availability matters just as much as ability.
And right now, Nawrocki’s body is raising too many questions.
For Celtic, it adds another layer to an already complicated situation. They invested £4.3 million to bring him in from Legia Warsaw. Across two years, he never fully established himself. Only 12 starts. Moments here and there, but never a consistent run.
Part of that was competition. Part of that was trust. But a big part of it was always fitness.
And now, even away from Glasgow, that same issue is following him.
There is still a player in there. That much is clear. The performances in Germany have shown it. The impact in big moments has proven it.
But the question that refuses to go away is simple.
Can he stay fit long enough for it to matter?
Because until that answer changes, every good moment will carry the same underlying doubt.
And every time he goes down, the same story will start all over again.