Two Celtic players who can’t be dropped named by Simon Donnelly despite lack of form

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Celtic players are being questioned intensely at the moment.

A 2-0 defeat to Dundee on Sunday was less than encouraging, and Brendan Rodgers’ comparing of the squad to a ‘Honda Civic’ made his thoughts on the speed of their play clear.

A hugely disappointing transfer window which has triggered a wave of Celtic fan protests is undoubtedly a contributing factor.

But the experience and quality in Rodgers’ squad remains more than good enough to be delivering better performances. There arguably isn’t a Celtic player who is currently at the top of their game.

For former Hoops attacker Simon Donnelly however, there are two players whom the Celtic manager can’t afford to drop.

Simon Donnelly on two Celtic players who can’t be dropped

No Celtic player is currently safe from criticism.

Even senior players such as Kasper Schmeichel, Kieran Tierney and Cameron Carter-Vickers have been singled out – and it’s difficult to defend them.

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But for Donnelly, speaking on Clyde Superscoreboard, the conversation reached the Hoops’ midfield – on paper, the strongest part of the team.

Arne Engels, Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo have all been on the fringes of the team, hoping to break into the starting XI perfectly.

But Donnelly thinks that it’s up to them to take the spot from two starters, who can’t be dropped.

He said: “I’m not one that hangs on price tags. People will look at that, but the lad [Engels] has come in and caught my eye at the start, I think in one of the games in Europe in particular, but these guys need to step up.

“They need to step up and contribute. The previous caller was suggesting that Callum McGregor should come out for me, McGregor and Hatate are the best two midfielders at Celtic – nailed on.

“I know they haven’t been putting in the performances at the moment, but I think they’re the best two. It’s up to the other ones to come in and rip that away from them and take the chance when it comes along.

“It’s not easy, but that’s what they need to do.”

Which Celtic players should be playing more?

Engels and Bernardo aren’t getting the starts that they would like, but given what they have contributed when involved, it’s difficult to justify playing them more.

Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura’s lack of minutes has drawn criticism – neither are even registered for the club’s European squad.

Tierney’s spot at left-back is contested by Marcelo Saracchi, whilst Charlie Mulgrew thinks Colby Donovan should have started against Dundee.

Rodgers has vowed to find solutions within his squad – we will see exactly what those look like over the coming weeks.