'WISHA COULD STILL COME TRUE

O'Neill set to give misfit chance against minnows

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

CELTIC scouted Michel-Ange Balikwisha for the best part of 18 months.

But the £5million outcast hasn't come close to living up to his hype or price tag although he’ set to be handed a rare chance to prove his worth tomorrow - and Martin O'Neill has urged the summer signing to grasp it with both hands.

It's an understatement to say that Balikwisha has flattered to deceive since Hoops chiefs persuaded him to swap Royal Antwerp for Parkhead in August.

The struggling DR Congo international has failed to make any impact, managing just 13 appearances for the champions with 11 of them from the bench.

He hasn't been sighted since a brief cameo in December's 3-0 defeat to Roma and has failed to make any of O'Neill's matchday squads following a disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign. Many fans have already written him off as another one of ex-recruitment chief Paul Tisdales misfires.

But O'Neill has challenged him to show what hes made of as he prepares to be unleashed against Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park.

Quizzed on the 24-year-old, he said: "Well, I think he’s just waiting for his turn and waiting for an opportunity to play. Hopefully he will be involved tomorrow in the game.