Celtic had an excellent start to the season after banking their fifth win out of five in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.
So far, Brendan Rodgers has seen off Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Hibs, Rangers and now Hearts to keep a five-point gap from the Ibrox club with Aberdeen sitting second on goal difference.
Celtic have been a superb attacking unit under Rodgers’ guidance so far this season and as well as hitting the goals, they have been keeping it tight at the back after equalling the 118-year record of keeping five clean sheets in a row for the first five league games of the season.
And, according to Peter Grant, there is one player at Celtic who has been at the heart of it all and who he believes is key to the Parkhead dressing room.
Greg Taylor has been done ‘exceptionally well’ at Celtic
Greg Taylor has been at the heart of Celtic’s successes since he joined the club back in 2019. The Scotland defender really hit top form under Ange Postecoglou but now, under Rodgers, he seems to have kicked on.
And as well as his importance on the field, Grant reckons what he gives off the park inside the Parkhead dressing room is just as important.
Grant told The Go Radio Football Show, “I think he’s been outstanding. I think Brendan touched on something there. I was quite fortunate to work with Scott Gemmell with the 21s and we went away to the Toulon Tournament and Greg scored the winner against Brazil.
“We beat Brazil 1-0 and he scored the goal.
“But the thing I liked about him more than anything else was his personality. It was infectious.
“I just liked the banter around about and you’ve got to have that in a dressing room because there’s a lot of seriousness that goes on in and around the dressing room.
“There’s certain guys who are noisy, some other guys are quiet, other guys like a laugh and a joke.
“So you need all these different types of personalities. But he’s got a really good personality, but let’s not take that away from his talent, because he’s done it exceptionally well.”
Taylor has ‘hardly put a foot wrong’ at Celtic
With his contract up at the end of the season, Grant says what Taylor has done for the team not just this season but in previous years has been ‘excellent’ for the club.
Grant continued, “I think Brendan touched on it. I’m not sure if Greg started as a left-winger. I’m not 100% sure.
“And I think he went to the left wing as well and then moved back to left back and played in there. But you can see when he goes into midfield, how he can handle the ball. And it’s not easy if you’re just a full-back going in there to receive the ball off the back guys.
“It’s completely different. He does it really well. He does it with that awareness of what’s on about him.
“And I think he’s been excellent so far this season. Not just in the recent seasons, but I think he’s been excellent so far this season. He’s hardly put a foot wrong.”
During his five years at the club, Taylor has picked up four league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
He was a mainstay in the Ange Postecoglou side that won the record-breaking eighth domestic treble and under Brendan Rodgers, Taylor is another player who has flourished at the club.
Hopefully Celtic can get Taylor tied down to a new deal as soon as possible because to lose a player of his experience for free at the end of this season would be a blow for the club.
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