Greg Taylor sent a reminder to all following Celtic’s win over Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon.
There weren’t many winners from Celtic’s defeat to St Johnstone last time out, but Taylor could have been one of them because he didn’t start the horror show in Perth.
That meant, for the visit of Kilmarnock against the champions-elect, Jeffrey Schlupp was axed from the XI, and Taylor returned to the starting line-up.
It was a welcome return for the 27-year-old, especially with his Celtic contract due to expire in the summer, where he can then leave on a free transfer.
Taylor produced a Man of the Match display, and he got a lot of people talking, regarding his future and whether or not he should leave in the summer.
Does Greg Taylor feel valued at Celtic, as his contract is due to expire?
Everyone is aware that Kieran Tierney will return to Celtic in the summer, so that, automatically, puts Taylor on the back foot.
As a result of it all, James McFadden raised a point that he perhaps feels ‘people maybe don’t like talking about’, and that’s whether the player in question feels valued, as he told Sky Sports.
McFadden explained how Taylor is doing his talking on the field of play by ‘fighting’ and showing everyone that he perhaps wants to stay.
“Also, people maybe don’t like talking about it,” said McFadden. “But when it comes to this stage, as well, your decision isn’t based on money and financially, but as much as you can talk about figures, it’s about what you feel you are worth. It’s not asking for too much.
“I don’t know how negotiations have gone, but feeling like you are being valued, in that sense, and maybe it is down to that. I don’t know. I imagine there are a number of factors, and Kieran Tierney coming in, and going to be the first choice, of course, he is, if he is fit.
“He has shown he is up for a fight. A very good player. He has been a brilliant player for Celtic. I think that performance shows there is fight still there for Greg Taylor. Maybe he does want to stay.”
Taylor ‘harshly criticised’ at Celtic
It can’t be denied that Taylor is a marmite-like figure, and that was proven during this campaign when Rodgers had to come out and defend his player.
McFadden feels that it has gone to such a stage where Taylor has been ‘harshly treated’ during his time at Celtic Park.
But, once again, Taylor has remained ‘professional’ regardless of the noise around him.
“Kieran Tierney coming in, you would expect him to be the starting fullback,” said McFadden. “But, I think it has been shown that, at different times of the season, it calls for a bit of freshness to the team.
“Greg Taylor has shown, for me, a lot of the time, he is harshly judged and harshly criticised, because one thing that he brings is. You look at his professionalism. His willingness to go and take the ball. Take part in the game.
“We are talking about a fullback here, who has been a catalyst for Celtic and how they started the game against Kilmarnock.”
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