Strachan open on Balde's future

Balde turned down a move to Sunderland in the summer

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists Bobo Balde still has a part to play if the defender wants to stay at the club.

Balde returned after a year on the sidelines to star in the Boxing Day win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

And Strachan stressed that Balde, set to leave for the African Nations Cup with Guinea after the next two matches, has his future in his own hands.

He said: "Why is it any different for Bobo? The future is determined by the player himself."

Media conference: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

The 32-year-old, who is contracted to the Scottish champions until 2009, was thought to have played his last game for the club after turning down a move to Sunderland.

"Bobo had the opportunity to go elsewhere in the summer and he decided to stay here," added Strachan.

"It is him who decides his future and it's the same with the rest of the players.

"I have a big squad of 22 players and my door is always open for anybody to talk about their future.

"Can they work hard enough? Do they want to play here? Do they have the opportunity to go elsewhere?"

Prior to the return of Balde, Celtic had failed to keep a clean sheet in 34 away games and had only taken six points from their previous five SPL games.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Do Celtic fans want to see Bobo Balde in the team?

But Strachan bristled when asked if had any regrets about leaving Balde out for so long.

He said: "Regrets? No. I have to make decisions.

"In 2007, we have won the league, won a cup and got to the last 16 of the Champions League.

"And as far as I'm concerned, the last 16 counts as a treble.

"It's far harder to get in to the last 16 than it is to win a cup by a million miles.

"We have the player of the year in Shunsuke Nakamura, we have Stephen McManus playing regularly for Scotland and that was all done without Bobo."