Former Celtic winger Paul Slane has pondered whether Neil Lennon just doesn’t fancy full-back Greg Taylor.
The £2.2million (Daily Mail) summer arrival has featured just six times in six months for the club.
Taylor had to play second fiddle to Boli Bolingoli for the majority of the first half of the season while, since the break, Jonny Hayes has played the majority of the matches.
Taylor did start the Partick Thistle cup tie but has been on the bench for the subsequent two matches.
And former Celt Slane reckons that is pretty telling.
“I don’t know if Neil Lennon doesn’t fancy Greg Taylor,” he said on Open Goal’s Keeping the Ball on the Ground Podcast.
“It certainly doesn’t look like that. Maybe he doesn’t fancy him, I don’t know.
“I think Celtic are gonna need to get a left-back. I know they’ve signed Boli and Greg Taylor but I don’t think you can go with Jonny Hayes.
“Lennon’s not scared to give people a chance so he obviously feels they’re not ready to play.
“I’m not saying Hayes isn’t a good player. But I don’t think he should be starting for Celtic.”
What has Lennon said about Taylor recently?
One thing about our gaffer is that he never really skirts around an issue. Lennon often speaks openly about his own players and what they need to do to get into his plans.
His most recent correspondence on Taylor was just prior to Christmas, as reported by the Daily Record.
Lennon said: “He’s training well, he just needs to be patient.
“He needs to take an example of a Tom Rogic or Ryan Christie, he’s here for a long time, it’s not just over a short term period we’re looking at him long term.”
While those comments may take a little bit of the pressure off Taylor, many fans will still be wondering why he isn’t getting his chance.
Taylor hasn’t looked brilliant when he has played thus far, but he hasn’t really had a proper run of games to make an impression.
His longest run in the team came back in November when he started three consecutive matches following injuries to both Bolingoli and Hayes.
It is no surprise that he was at his best during that period, when he had security over a place in the team.
Perhaps Lennon has to give him that security again over the next six to eight weeks and see if Taylor can repay him.
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