LISBON Lion Willie Wallace last night launched a withering attacking on Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers for his treatment of Daniel Arzani.

And the hero of 1967's all-conquering team even suggested the Australian winger, who he compared favourably to Jimmy Johnstone, might be better returning to parent club Manchester City if he isn't going to get a game at Parkhead.

At the time of Arzani arriving in Glasgow, Rodgers insisted the player wasn't ready for first-team football despite him doing well in the World Cup for his country and that it may take some time before the supporters saw him.

Wallace, who has lived in Australia for almost 40 years has been a huge admirer of Arzani from his days at Melbourne City and was delighted when his old club signed him.

And this is why he can't understand why Arzani has yet to figure for Celtic with no hint of a debut in the near future.

Wallace said: “Arzani is a good little player and the manager disappointed me on that one. If I was the board at Celtic Park, I'd have kicked the manager's arse out the door.

"He's telling me that it's going to be a while before he plays? Well, why are Celtic paying the wages and not Manchester City?

"Why would take him for two years if he isn't going to play in your team? You'd spend your money in a better way.

"The kid, for me, will finish up a better player than James Forrest. Arzani is quick, he takes people on and he reminds me a bit of Jinky because of that.

"He doesn't have Jimmy's trickery but he gets balls over and did really well at Melbourne City for a couple of seasons.

"So when I heard the manager say he wasn't ready, I was baffled. Why take the boy if he thinks he's not ready?"

Arzani is contracted to be at Celtic until the summer of 2020 but Wallace, one the club's greatest ever players, fears the Australian is wasting his time.

Wallace said: "If I was the lad, I’d ask to go back to City or go somewhere else to get a game. But as I always say, every coach, ever manager has different ideas. I could be 100 per cent wrong.”