Chris Sutton delivers honest verdict on Jeffrey Schlupp’s start to life as a Celtic player 

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Celtic’s left-back spot could be in for some big changes in the summer.

Everyone is aware that Kieran Tierney will return to Celtic in the summer when his Arsenal contract expires and he re-joins on a free transfer.

That will be a huge boost for Brendan Rodgers that he can get a man of his quality back on the books of Celtic.

But, as of this moment, Tierney will be the only player Rodgers will be able to play at left-back next season because Greg Taylor is out of contract.

As of this moment, there is no sign that Taylor will extend his stay at Celtic, but could his replacement already be in the building?

Celtic signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace on a deal until the end of the campaign and he started the game in Munich to prove he is already making noises in a positive sense.

Schlupp also started Celtic’s 5-1 win over Aberdeen on Tuesday night, with Taylor absent because his wife is giving birth to their first child.

READ MORE: What Jeffrey Schlupp said about joining Celtic at the end of the season

Chris Sutton lauds the quick start Jeffrey Schlupp has made at Celtic

Just like Jota and his return, Schlupp was another player who had played very little this season, so you were expecting some rust in his play.

But, as Chris Sutton touched upon, the 32-year-old has slotted in ‘really, really well’ and he is loving what he is seeing from the player, as he told Sky Sports Football (25/02/25 at 9:25 pm).

Rodgers is using Schlupp at left-back, even though he can also play in other areas of the pitch, as Sutton isn’t just impressed by what he produced against Aberdeen.

“I have liked the look of Jeffrey Schlupp since he has come in at Celtic,” said Sutton. “He did really well in Munich against his old pal, Michael Olise. Played him excellently.

“He has slotted in really, really well. It hasn’t taken him long.”

Schlupp’s stats for Celtic against Aberdeen

It’s not really the norm for Celtic to go down the road of bringing in players with the experience of Schlupp, but he is in the building and performing well.

That was proven against the Dons because it was another top showing from the player. 

Yes, it’s a small sample size, but so far, you can’t argue too much about what the Celtic Park faithful have seen from Schlupp and there will be calls to get him in for next season.

It’s something that can work if Taylor leaves because then Tierney will be seen as the number one guy and Schlupp as the back-up option.