Celtic boss Neil Lennon has today decided that Stoke City loanee Moritz Bauer will be returning to the Bet365 Stadium at the end of the current campaign, with Football Insider reporting that the Hoops boss has recommended that the club do not activate their option to buy the defender. 

Since arriving at Celtic Park back in May of last year, the Austrian has so far failed to settle at the Scottish club, appearing in just 13 games across all competitions for the Glasgow based outfit this term.

Bauer's current contract at Stoke still has three years left to run on it after he originally signed for the Potters back January 2018 from Russian outfit Rubin Kazan and with Celtic seemingly intent on sending him packing, the full back's future is very much up in the air.

QUIZ: Can you name these 15 ex-Stoke City right-backs? See if you can get full marks down below!

Here, we take a look at ONE winner and ONE loser of Moritz Bauer returning to Stoke City next season....

Winner 

Tommy Smith

The experienced full back has enjoyed something of an unchallenged run at the right back slot this term, with the likes of Tom Edwards having failed to have displaced the 27-year-old from his role in the starting eleven under Michael O'Neill this season.

Given the experience that Bauer also possesses, Smith could well be prompted to improve his performance levels even further next term, with the increased competition potentially putting his starting spot at risk if he doesn't pull his weight.

Smith is also approaching the back end of his career and could well become more susceptible to injuries thus meaning the Potters may want to have some more experienced back up at the club to provide cover next term.

Only time will tell if Bauer does indeed make a return to the Bet365 Stadium next term but one things for sure, if the Austrian does, Smith will be up for the fight.

Loser 

Tom Edwards

The young Stoke City full back has found himself largely out of favour under first Nathan Jones and now Michael O'Neill, with Smith being firmly the first choice at right back this season.

A reappearance of Bauer at the Bet365 Stadium could well spell even further bad news for Edwards, with both Smith and Bauer possessing far more experience than him at a high level.

A loan spell away from the club next term may be the next best step for the full back as he looks to rediscover the level of form which saw him promoted to first team level  in the first place.

In the meantime Edwards will be keen to make the most of any opportunities that come his way between now and the end of the season as he bids to show his manager that he is the man for the role at right back.