Celtic’s left-back options are looking healthy again.
In the absence of Marcelo Sarachi, Kieran Tierney had to hold the fort for a few months, making a mockery of his much talked-about injury fragility.
But with the Uruguayan now back from injury, Martin O’Neill will have no qualms reintroducing him to the starting XI after his cameo against Dundee.
Tierney was substituted with a suspected concussion in the 90th minute against Dundee, but O’Neill has since confirmed that he remains fully available.
But as far as Peter Grant is concerned, that doesn’t guarantee that he is first-choice at left-back.
Would you take Marcelo Saracchi at Celtic permanently?
Peter Grant on Celtic’s Marcelo Saracchi
Saracchi is on loan at Celtic from Boca Juniors, having also spent time at international heavyweights River Plate, Galatasaray and RB Leipzig.
He is chasing a hotly-contested spot in Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay squad for this summer’s World Cup.
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If he wants to be successful in achieving that, he’ll have to earn plenty of game time for the Hoops, and Grant feels that he offers something that they don’t have.
He told the Go Radio Football Show: “I’ll tell you what… Saracchi came on, and I think that changed the game for Celtic.
“And no disrespect to Kieran – [Saracchi] started driving. When Celtic needed people to drive, he was driving.
“He looked like [he had] that energy. And before he got injured [in November], I thought he was outstanding, and [that] he was going to make it very difficult for Kieran.
“You know I’m a big supporter of Kieran Tierney, but I thought Saracchi lifted the team. He gets forward, he delivers into the box, he passes forward…
“He’s a big player for Celtic now. He’s been excellent any time I’ve seen him. He brings something to the team that sparks them.
“And I thought he done that against Dundee. I don’t think he gets much credit for that substitution, because [he’s] a left-back.
“I genuinely seen in that game: he’s giving us a wee spark, lifting the players around about him, lifted the supporters. A little bit of enthusiasm, that’s all they want.”
Kieran Tierney has been one of Celtic’s best players this season…
Agree or disagree?
Celtic’s impact from the bench against Dundee
As Grant says, Saracchi made an impact from the bench on Saturday, helping his players. He wasn’t the only one, though.
Sebastian Tounekti’s positivity is the reason why Celtic are still in the cup. His direct running led to Junior Adamu’s equaliser.
Adamu’s finish was excellent, marking a perfect debut for the Austrian striker, who has joined on loan from Freiburg with an option to buy.
Spare a thought, also, for Luke McCowan, whose performance marked a significant improvement on that of Paulo Bernardo, who started.
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