Celtic legend Chris Sutton thinks that when there is a choice to make between Ryan Christie and Tom Rogic, Neil Lennon will select Christie in the middle of the park every time.
Christie replaced Rogic in the Hoops side for the game against Lazio in the Europa League, and he scored and provided an assist in Celtic’s memorable 2-1 victory.
So good have Christie’s performances been this season that Sutton can’t see a place for treble winner Rogic in the current Hoops side.
“No way back”
“Christie is the full package and I can pay him no bigger compliment than saying there seems absolutely no way back for Tom Rogic in terms of that No.10 position” Sutton said, writing in his column in the Daily Record.
“I can’t believe I’m saying that because I’m a huge fan of the Australian. He is also full of craft and gets you goals, but he plays a pace gears below Christie. Celtic are better with the latter’s pace and drive” Sutton concluded.
Rogic will have a chance to prove Sutton wrong on Sunday. He will most likely be in the Hoops side that faces Aberdeen at Pittodrie, whilst Christie serves the second of his two-match suspension.
Could stay in team with match-winning display
Should he turn in a man of the match display, Neil Lennon might well consider keeping Rogic in the team. At the moment though, if it is a battle between the two players for the one position, Christie will have to get the nod.
His goalscoring record alone is reason enough for him to be kept in the side. 12 goals from midfield before the end of October is a record that most strikers would envy.
You have to image that when Christie returns from suspension against St Mirren on Wednesday, he will be in the team in-place of Rogic.
That is not a slight on the Australian, who is an excellent player. But at the moment, it looks like he will have to be content with a place on the Celtic bench.
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