John Collins has identified three Celtic players that would be able to instantly improve Wilfried Nancy’s side.
It has been a disastrous start for the Frenchman, who has lost all four games as Celtic manager.
The defeat against Dundee United was overshadowed by chants calling for the 48-year-old to go but, despite conflicting reports, it seems that Nancy will be in charge against Aberdeen on Sunday.
Nancy has had to deal with a number of players out on the sidelines, but there are a trio of players that Collins believes he is missing more than others.
- READ MORE: How Wilfried Nancy’s first four games as Celtic manager compare to his start at Columbus Crew
Who is the most important player in the Celtic squad?
The three players that Celtic are missing according to John Collins
Collins was a hero at Celtic after playing over 200 times, so knows the demands of the club as well as anyone else.
He also knows that the new era has not been good enough but feels that Nancy deserves more time – especially with the number of players missing.
“It takes time, he told BBC Radio Five Live. “He’s taken over a side that were on a good run under Martin O’Neill with seven wins out of eight.
“Anyone who watched those games will know Martin got a lot of luck as well, but he got them over the line and got the points on the board.
“This manager has had no luck. He’s got a lot of injuries at the moment – Alistair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers – two mainstays of the back two are out. He’s not really got a centre forward – Kelechi Iheanacho injured – so any team playing without an out-and-out goalscorer is going to struggle.
“He’s got a small squad to pick from with lots of key players out who he’ll hope will be back in the new year.”
When will Celtic’s injured players return?
It is unlikely that we will see Cameron Carter-Vickers at any point for the remainder of the season, likewise with Callum Osmand.
Alistair Johnston seems like he is edging closer to a return, and Kelechi Iheanacho is set for an extra few weeks on the sidelines.
Marcelo Saracchi is also still recovering from a hamstring problem and will probably be expected back at the same time as Iheanacho.
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