‘Tricky task’ – Chris Sutton ‘fascinated’ to see how Brendan Rodgers solves tactical Celtic problem

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Celtic need to sign a new left-back this summer.

Kieran Tierney was announced to be returning to Celtic as early as February and it opened up the prospect of having both him and Greg Taylor.

Taylor’s contract was expiring and Brendan Rodgers wanted him to stay to compete with Tierney. However, Taylor wanted to leave Celtic and signed for PAOK days ago.

Celtic have Mitchel Frame in their ranks, but Rodgers may fancy more experience to provide back-up for former Arsenal star Tierney.

With Taylor gone, Chris Sutton thinks a tactical problem has now arisen.

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Sutton curious over Celtic’s balance on left side of pitch

Sutton, writing for the Daily Record, thinks losing Taylor will impact Celtic’s style of play on the left side of the pitch.

Taylor was an inverted full-back and drifted brilliantly into midfield. Tierney, on the other, is a more traditional full-back. So Sutton is eager to see how Rodgers combats this.

Sutton said: “He (Rodgers) faces a tricky task to replace Greg Taylor. Kieran Tierney is an upgrade, I don’t think it’s merely a question of one-in and one-out.

“Taylor didn’t just play the inverted role. He mastered it. In my eyes, Tierney plays the left-back role in a more-orthodox fashion.

“Much of the dominance that Rodgers’ team is able to impart on matches comes from their ability to create overloads and Taylor was often key to that in the midfield.

“You don’t need both full-backs coming infield to do it, just the one. But that’s where Celtic had nice balance because Alistair Johnston has always looked more a Tierney than a Taylor.

“I’ll be fascinated to see what he does in terms of that balance.”

Mitchel Frame impressed against Queen’s Park

Is the answer to Rodgers’ predicament Mitchel Frame then? The 19-year-old is a left-back who surely has time on his side to develop into an inverted full-back.

Frame was a regular for Celtic B last season in the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League. Perhaps the time is now for a promotion.

He played a half against Queen’s Park on Friday evening and was pivotal in the build-up to Johnny Kenny’s goal, which ultimately won the game for Celtic.

Frame has played just 15 minutes of senior competitive football for the Hoops, which came in a Champions League tie during the 2023/24 season.