Hutton slams 'not good enough' Nat Phillips as Liverpool deal set to be terminated

Nat Phillips "has to improve" for Celtic after his disastrous performance against Kilmarnock.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Rangers and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton feels the Liverpool loanee has looked "uncomfortable" for the Hoops and is often caught out of position.

As revealed by Football Insider (16 December), the Reds are set to recall the centre-back from his loan spell amid their search for defensive cover.

The 26-year-old has played just 404 minutes in all competitions for the Hoops this season and netted an own goal against the Killies in their 2-1 win at Rugby Park.

Hutton admitted it is tough for a rotation player to keep up to pace when called upon, but has been less than impressed with the Englishman's outings.

"He looked really uncomfortable," he told Football Insider.

"I think that's what Kilmarnock tried to do. Especially when Celtic are playing away from home, they try and get around the centre-backs, they try to get the ball over the top and down the sides.

"They try to make you do things that as a defender you do not want to do.

"With Phillips' own goal, you can see he's in the wrong position. He's always running back towards his own goal and sliding in to make last-ditch tackles.

"The ball can go anywhere. His overall performance was not good enough.

"It's not ideal that he's not in the number one partnership at the back, that's Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers, so being in and out can be difficult.

"But he definitely has to improve."

In other news, Sources: Fulham head to Celtic clash to scout Gimenez.