Teammate gives Greg Taylor vote of confidence before Celtic move

Add as preferred source on Google

Greg Taylor has been given a vote of confidence by Kilmarnock teammate Stephen O’Donnell ahead of his proposed move to Celtic.

Scotland international Taylor, 21, is expected to complete his move to the champions on Monday after they closed in on Killie’s valuation of the player. (BBC)

The left-back has chalked up an impressive 129 club appearances over the past three and a bit seasons, and earned his first Scotland cap in the May defeat to Belgium.

He’ll provide competition for the improving Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo at Parkhead, with O’Donnell insisting the defender owes nothing to the Rugby Park club.

“The Greg Taylor stuff is out of our control,” O’Donnell told the Daily Record. “It is a great move if he gets it.

“He does not owe Kilmarnock anything.

“He has worked his backside off since he came and has been a great servant for the past four seasons, an ever-present. I was actually quite sad not to see Greg in the warm-up for the Saints game.

“I will still see him with Scotland. I am hoping to room with him although if he ‘pies me’ for the Celtic boys I will know he has changed.

“I’ll just have to remind him I was at Celtic first!”

Taylor is not assured Celtic starting berth

The likely signing of Taylor will add to the positivity at Celtic following Sunday’s terrific derby victory.

The left-back should have been signed earlier in the window but most fans will just be glad we got him in the end. Taylor may have fancied his chances of strolling into Neil Lennon’s starting XI not so long ago. However, the recent displays of Bolingoli in Sweden and at Ibrox mean that it is he who is in charge of the left-back jersey at present.

The Belgian looks like he is settling into his role in Glasgow. He has grown in confidence in recent weeks and is now starting to look every bit the £3million player that we signed.

Taylor will be a much steadier hand than the former Rapid Vienna man. The Scotsman is a pretty similar player to the recently departed Kieran Tierney. He likes to defend first and foremost, offering assured performances in that regards, but can also get forward to add goals and assists.

Quite stunningly, we seem to have gone from having no left-backs to having two pretty good ones. It’s crazy how quickly things can change in football.