Martin O’Neill has a big call to make ahead of Celtic’s trip to Rangers on Sunday.
Auston Trusty is banned for the fixture after getting sent off against Hibernian at the weekend, and he is now suspended for three games.
Frank McAvennie has backed Benjamin Arthur to start alongside Liam Scales at Ibrox, as he was left impressed by the physical size of the loan star from Brentford.
The former Celtic striker stated that Arthur is a ‘big unit’, after watching him for the first time during the 2-1 defeat to Hibs.
Does Benjamin Arthur have enough quality to make an impact for Celtic?
Frank McAvennie impressed by Benjamin Arthur’s size
Following Trusty’s sending off against Hibs, O’Neill had one more change under his belt, and he brought on Arthur for winger Hyunjun Yang.
Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank Podcast, McAvennie wanted to bat away any worries about Arthur’s age and how, at the age of 20, he is more than ready to play against Rangers.
He used Celtic legend Johan Mjallby as an example.
Simon Houston: “Who is partnering Scales?”
Frank McAvennie: “The boy Arthur. You have got to bring in the boy Arthur.”
Houston: “He came on against Hibernian. What a size he is.”
McAvennie: “He’s a big boy. He’s a big unit.”
Houston: “Oh, he’s a giant. It was difficult to tell what sort of pace he has, though. He didn’t really get an opportunity to see much of that. But he’s a giant of a lad.”
McAvennie: “Listen, you have got a boy who is 6 ft 7 or whatever he is. People will say, ‘he’s only 20.’ I will go, ‘well, I was 20 when I made my debut for St Mirren. I scored two goals, and I was never out of the team.’ I was skinny.
“But you make it. These are the games you want to make your name. Johan Mjallby made his debut against Rangers.
“Just put the boy in, and it might save our season.”
Alternative selection if Martin O’Neill doesn’t select Arthur…
What if O’Neill doesn’t want to pick Arthur? Dane Murray is the other option, but McAvennie isn’t so keen.
Murray struggled at Hearts under Brendan Rodgers in October, and he has hardly played since that match.
But if Arthur isn’t a possible solution instead of Trusty, McAvennie put forward a left-field pick and stated he would like to see Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney alongside Scales.
McAvennie: “If they don’t fancy him then the only thing they could do…”
Houston: “Dane Murray?”
McAvennie: “No, the only thing I would do is put Tierney at centre-half. That’s the only thing I would do. Again, it’s Scales and Tierney, two left-footed. But Trusty is left-footed.”
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