One player who is definitely set to miss Saturday’s clash for Kilmarnock against Celtic is Stuart Findlay.
The Scotland centre-back has been an absolute stalwart for Killie this season. Making 31 outings this season, Findlay has been rewarded with his first senior Scotland call-up. He also picked up just his second red card in 124 professional appearances last weekend against Aberdeen.
For those who don’t remember, Findlay actually came through the ranks at Parkhead. He featured for the Hoops youth sides and captained at under-17 level. He also featured in the UEFA Youth League too as a young Celt.
But his career has taken him to permanent switches to Newcastle and then subsequently Kilmarnock. It’s in Ayrshire that the centre-back has really started to make a name for himself though. And, with Celtic needing defensive recruits this summer, they could do a lot worse than look at Findlay for cover at the very least.
When it comes to one-v-one defending, he’s one of the best in the country. Findlay’s positional awareness, dominance in the air, and composure on the ball all impress for a player of such inexperience at the top level.
Steve Clarke has worked wonders with Findlay, and his CV in Scotland is extremely impressive. Since moving up from Newcastle, he’s managed to bag 24 clean sheets. He’s managed to keep quiet strikers such as Leigh Griffiths, Moussa Dembele, Jermaine Defoe, and Steven Naismith with ease in the past.
No appeal available for Findlay and Kilmarnock
The fact Findlay’s red card can’t be appealed for Saturday is a bigger boost than many realise. In all four games against Killie under Clarke where we’ve failed to win, Findlay has been a standout in every single one.
These include matches at Parkhead too. Findlay isn’t ever overawed at Paradise, and has certainly been more of a standout at Killie than Jack Hendry was at Dundee and Craig Halkett is at Livingston respectively.
But, at the same time, Saturday would’ve been a great chance for Findlay to impress his old club yet again. He has all the tools to become a top-class defender. There’s no denying that Odsonne Edouard would’ve been in for a battle had Findlay been starting on Saturday.
He’ll likely be replaced by Alex Bruce, who is one of the only other senior centre-backs available for Kilmarnock. But Bruce doesn’t have anywhere near the same history of high-performance levels that Findlay has.
The Killie stalwart is going to be a real star at a big club someday. Celtic may want to just keep an eye on his continued progression.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
