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Neil Lennon singles out the Celtic player with a ‘great attitude’ and acknowledges surprising stat

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon has singled out left-back Greg Taylor for praise after his recent run in the starting eleven.

Taylor has started the last eight league matches in a row, proving to be a reliable option on the left flank.

That’s despite Uruguayan international coming into the club on loan from AC Milan.

It’s clear that the Bhoys boss now has a favourite in a position.

On merit too, it should be said. Taylor hasn’t put a foot wrong of late and has also pitched in with assists against St Mirren and St Johnstone.

He now has seven assists in total this season, surprisingly the second highest in the entire Celtic squad.

That number was put to Lennon by print journalists this weekend and the manager is very pleased with the Scotland international’s progress.

As quoted by The Scottish Mail on Sunday (21/02 print edition, page 152), he said: “He is playing very well and he has a great attitude.

“He’s been really consistent and is a very good footballer. Greg has a good mentality and a great appetite for the game. There is room for improvement in him but he will be delighted with that stat because he works hard at his game.

“It is always good to have competition. If players look a bit fatigued it is good to be able to take them out. Greg came out and Diego did well. Now Greg has come back in and played consistently well.

“Players will tell you they always want to play but sometimes having a rest and watching some of the games, and knowing how much the those games mean to them, it is good to come back in hungry and ready for more.”

You might expect more of Celtic’s attacking players to have a better assist rate this season, but Taylor is pulling his weight on the wing, and can still improve to provide more.

Neil Lennon Greg Taylor
Greg Taylor in action for Celtic / (Photo by Steve Welsh/Pool via Getty Images)

Lennon goes on to cite Taylor’s hunger to make the Scotland squad for this summer’s European Championships as another reason he is stepping up right now.

Taylor doesn’t have much hope of starting often for Steve Clarke considering the presence of Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson, but he is a good depth option.

If that’s a personal motivation for him now that our season has hit the buffers, fair play to him.

In other news, Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish raises concerns as Scottish FA appoint a new compliance officer.