Andy Walker lays down firm demand to Celtic players ahead of Ibrox

By Euan Davidson

April 14, 2021

Former Celtic striker and current Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker claims Celtic owe their supporters a result on Sunday.

Walker has proven a controversial figure over the season. Not universally popular with supporters, he earned some goodwill in his response to the club’s Dubai trip. In January, with the fall-out ringing around Celtic fans’ ears, Walker blasted the board for their treatment of supporters and “arrogance” of the club.

Now, ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow Derby in the Scottish Cup, Walker believes the job of repaying the fans continues. Speaking on the Sky Sports Scottish Football Podcast, Walker said:

“I think Celtic owe their supporters a big performance, and there’s nowhere better to do it than this weekend at Ibrox. That would, I think, wouldn’t right any wrongs this season, it would just give Celtic hope. We’re all aware of the scale in change in personnel that’s going to happen.”

Odsonne Edouard and Moi Elyounoussi: key for Celtic / (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Former Celtic man Andy Walker on team selection, “Griffiths is way off it”

While the Bhoys have performed admirably in the last two derbies, the results haven’t gone our way. A 1-1 draw in March flattered Rangers in the extreme, and there’s real optimism ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash.

The Scottish Cup is the Bhoys’ last chance of silverware this season. Supporters are desperate to salvage something from 21-22, after a year of chronic mismanagement at the club.

In terms of team selection, Walker was focussed on the attacking talents at John Kennedy’s disposal.

Walker said [Sky Sports]:

“Griffiths is way off it, I don’t think he’ll get anywhere near the starting XI. What I did like in the first 45 minutes, maybe an hour in the recent 1-1 game was that link up play between Edouard and Elyounoussi.

“There seemed to be a bit of an understanding there. Maybe that’s something Celtic are working on. I think the two of them are certainties to start the game.

“Turnbull will play. It’ll be interesting to see if James Forrest has managed to shake off that injury he picked up against Livingston last weekend.

“The experienced players like Brown and McGregor have missed another experienced player in Forrest.”

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