Flop goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas has been tipped to make a success of his time at Celtic by outgoing temporary boss John Kennedy.
The Greek international arrived from AEK Athens in the summer for £5million but has struggled badly in his first season.
The stopper lost his starting place to Scott Bain and Conor Hazard at various points in the campaign, but finished 2020-21 with back-to-back clean sheets.
Kennedy admits the 26-year-old has struggled this season but believes anyone would have found it tough to fill the gloves of Fraser Forster.
He reckons Barkas will be ready to go next season under the next man in the Parkhead hot seat.
Kennedy told Celtic TV after the end of his interim Celtic reign: "It has probably been two games where he has not been overly tested, which is a good thing because it means the rest of the team are doing what they should be doing.
"But he has been assured, good with the ball, doing his job as well as he could so it was good for him to come back in.
"He has had a difficult season, several players have, but especially someone coming in to replace Fraser Forster and there has been a change of culture, lots of challenges and he has had to deal with that himself.
"He has had a period out the team, he comes in for the last couple of games and hopefully that sets him up well for next season."
