Jack Hendry has opened up on his Celtic future and insists the ball is in Neil Lennon's court if he returns to Parkhead next summer.
The centre-half has made an incredible impact on loan in Belgium with Oostende and looks to have revived his career after struggling to make a breakthrough in Glasgow.
The 25-year-old rattled off three clean sheets and a 90th minute winner in his first four games with his new club, which led to Hendry's manager Alexander Blessin calling him one of the best defenders in the Belgian top flight.
Oostende have an option to make the move permanent for £1.75million in the summer.
Celtic currently find themselves in the middle of a defensive crisis, conceding 17 goals in their first five Europa League group stage games.
And Hendry could still theoretically be a Celtic player next season with a year left on his current deal.
Asked if he has a future under Lennon, he said: “I don’t know, I’m here for a year so there is still a bit of time before I would go back, if I did go back. It’s something you’d have to ask the gaffer.
“Those things outwith my control but all I need to do is continue to play well and at a good level and if I do then those things will take care of itself. I need to perform on the pitch for those things to be talked about anyway."
Celtic find themselves 11 points behind title rivals Rangers with critics questioning if Lennon is the right man for the job.
But Hendry has backed his parent club to turn things around this season.
He added: “It’s unfortunate Celtic have picked up a few defeats recently, but I’m sure the boys in that set up will turn it around.
"I believe in them, they are all good players and from when I’ve been at the club, I couldn’t speak highly enough of them. They are all top European players and they’re just going through a bad moment just now.
“They’ve won nine titles in a row, so they’ve deserved that, and they’ve broken some unbelievable records which haven’t been done in world football before.
"They’ve still got the main core of players there so I think if there was anyone to turn it around it would be that group of boys, so fingers crossed they can do it.”
Hendry has received his fair share of criticism from Celtic fans and pundits as he struggled to settle at the club.
The 25-year-old admits it was a shock to the system, but he's been able to learn how to handle it and doesn't hold any ill feelings towards people voicing their opinions.
He said: “I suppose criticism is just part and parcel of football and when you play for such a big club like Celtic, you’re under the microscope constantly. It’s just about learning to deal with it and becoming a better person at the end of it.
"Obviously, there is a worldwide fan base at Celtic and they’ve got such high expectations and sometimes if you drop below that bar then you will come in the firing line.
"It’s just something you’ve got to deal with when you play for a club like Celtic and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but from a personal point of view I’ve got no harsh feelings towards anyone and they’re allowed to voice their opinion.”
