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Exclusive: McNamara tips 'Excellent' Celtic fringe player for rare start v Hamilton
Jackie McNamara says he sees no reason why Celtic manager Neil Lennon would take left-back Greg Taylor out the side for the clash against Hamilton.
The former Hoops and Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, says that the 22-year-old took his opportunity in the starting XI against St Johnstone on Wednesday night.
Taylor was making his first Premiership appearance in eight games in the 3-0 win, having found himself behind Boli Bolingoli and Jonny Hayes in the pecking order this season.
McNamara says that the defender’s display at McDiarmid Park was hugely impressive and insists it should keep him in the side for Sunday’s showdown.
McNamara told Football Insider: “I don’t see why he’d take him out the team, he’s doing well.
“It’s like anything else, if he gets his opportunity and starts at the weekend, he’s set the standard and he keeps that standard. He’s been given the chance and he’s done well.
“With Hayes and Boli he’s had to be patient but that’s what happens at big clubs. There’s competition for players, new players come in and they have to wait for their chance. I think he’s done well, Wednesday night was probably his best performance going forward.
His deliveries were excellent, not just for Griffiths’ goal but his crossing and his movement in behind, that made an impact on his game.”
Taylor has made just seven appearances for Celtic since his move from Kilmarnock, with six starts from a possible 19 in the Premiership.
Celtic go into Sunday’s clash top of the table in Scotland’s top flight, five points clear of Rangers having played one game more.
In other Celtic news, Alan Hutton believes one Hoops star will be gutted after Neil Lennon’s admission.