Benjamin Nygren is Celtic’s top scorer this season with 18 goals to his name, but Chris Sutton wants him dropped for the trip to Rangers on Sunday.
The former Celtic striker doesn’t think Nygren has the legs in the midfield to cope with a game that will have the intensity and aggression of a Glasgow derby.
Sutton stated that Celtic ‘can’t afford to be overrun’ in the middle of the park at Ibrox, and that’s why he doesn’t want to see Nygren in the XI.
“Celtic can’t afford to be overrun in midfield at Ibrox,” said Sutton. “And that might mean sacrifices have to be made.”
You never know what Martin O’Neill might throw up, but given that Nygren didn’t start Celtic’s win in Stuttgart in midweek, it probably indicates that he was being rested for the Rangers game.
- READ MORE: Barry Ferguson tells Danny Rohl ‘respect’ Celtic amid Rangers man’s war of words with Martin O’Neill
What changes would you make to Callum’s predicted XI to face Rangers? 🤔
Chris Sutton backs Luke McCowan to start over Benjamin Nygren at Ibrox
The man who Sutton has put forward to start instead of Nygren is Luke McCowan, who has been a bit-part player at Celtic once again this season.
But after McCowan scored for Celtic in Germany in midweek, Sutton thinks the boyhood Hoops fan has the ‘energy’ and ‘drive’ in the middle of the park to cope with a Glasgow derby.
Sutton understands that his comments against Nygren are ‘harsh’, but feels that such a call still needs to be made, as he told The Daily Record.
“Luke McCowan must be banging on the door as well,” said Sutton.
“Celtic will need legs in midfield, especially if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Callum McGregor start as expected.
“McCowan has the energy and drive to provide it. That might leave people wondering how Benjamin Nygren fits in. He doesn’t, is the answer. That might be harsh on the top goal scorer, and it will be tough to leave out the main threat.
“But Celtic can’t afford to be overrun in midfield at Ibrox, and that might mean sacrifices have to be made.”
Sorry, Chris, but Nygren needs to start and should be respected more…
Yes, you want Nygren to be involved more, and he isn’t exactly somebody who covers a lot of ground, but he isn’t the issue here; the rest of the midfield and those around him are.
Celtic have missed Kyogo’s bite without the ball in the centre-forward area, Daizen Maeda’s head is elsewhere, and the midfield has declined, declined and declined.
If those around Nygren actually upped their game. From the pressing of Maeda to Reo Hatate actually turning up.
Then maybe the efficient work of Nygren would be appreciated a lot more because he is a system player, and the system is letting him down.
Plus, Celtic need to win this game. Draws are no good. Pick your top scorer, and win the game!
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
