Former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant has spoken about Brendan Rodgers’ team selection against Lazio.
Celtic crashed out of the Champions League for the second consecutive year and it is now impossible for the Hoops to secure European football after Christmas.
Celtic face Feyenoord in their final game of the group at Celtic Park, with Brendan Rodgers looking to win Celtic’s first game at home in the Champions League for over a decade.
This season marks yet another disappointing European campaign for the Hoops, with near misses against Atletico Madrid and Lazio at Celtic Park proving costly.
Last night was another example, as Celtic appeared to be on the brink of an impressive result, but Ciro Immobile’s late double proved to be a killer blow.
Peter Grant on Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team selection against Lazio
Grant said [The Go Radio Football Show], “Just looking at it tactically and looking at James Forrest who has not played for a while, you could have said he could have went with David Turnbull even wider and played instead of Luis Palma.
“Because David Turnbull’s got a lovely right foot so when he’s coming inside and he can have shots at goal and he can put delivery in the box. And it also gives you that extra body in midfield defensively with a natural midfielder.
“Going with two wingers, especially as James is not playing as many games, I’m not sure we’re going to get much threat in the box with that. Because I look at the two wingers and how Yang plays on the left-hand side and he comes in quite a lot.
“And James on the opposite side, he never really was one for running by people, so there’s a lot of passing inside at times. And my only concern is how you’re going to get the delivery into Kyogo on his own and also the fact that David Turnbull gives you a massive goal threat.”
David Turnbull contract situation
David Turnbull has not started in Celtic’s last four games despite being the Hoops’ top goal scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season.
With his contract set to expire in the summer of 2024, Celtic have yet to agree on a contract extension, leaving Turnbull’s future uncertain.
Brendan Rodgers previously spoke about how a contract extension is on the table, with the ball said to be in Turnbull’s court over whether to agree to the new deal.
Turnbull’s hesitancy to sign a new deal may have contributed to his recent spell on the bench, despite his goal-scoring exploits this season.
Turnbull will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement in January meaning the situation will come to a head soon.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
