Celtic have got ‘ready replacement’ for Greg Taylor after latest – pundit
Alan Hutton has insisted Alexandro Bernabei has to “step up” for Celtic in light of Greg Taylor’s injury.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Rangers defender said Ange Postecoglou will not want to risk playing Josip Juranovic at left-back given his poor performance in the derby clash.
Taylor, 25, was replaced by Juranovic on the 20-minute mark after re-aggravating a hamstring knock.
Despite natural left-back Bernabei on the bench and available, Postecoglou opted to throw in Juranovic who was largely at fault for Ryan Kent’s equaliser.
The Croatian was on the bench for the derby clash with new boy Alistair Johnston being give his first Hoops start.
As quoted by the Herald (2 January), the Celts boss said Juranovic was not feeling “100 per cent” so he started on the bench.
Bernabei, 22, has made just eight league appearances since his arrival from Lanus in the summer with Taylor having reached another level with the threat of competition.
When asked if the Argentinian is ready to fill in for Taylor, Hutton told Football Insider: “He will have to.
“Depending on what happens with Juranovic. After seeing him play at left-back, will Postecoglou want to try that again? Probably not.
“I think when you have got a ready replacement there you are going to have to use him. It is a real shame for Taylor because I think he has had an excellent season.
“If he does not go off, does that penalty actually happen? I think defensively he was really good so it was a real shame from a Celtic point of view.
“But I think it is time now for the likes of Bernabei to step up because he is going to need to.“
In other news, a Glasgow pundit has slammed ‘stupid’ Carl Starfelt as Celtic footage emerges.