It is fair to say that Boli Bolingoli didn’t have the best of games in Celtic’s recent 2-1 loss to Rangers. The left-back hasn’t been in the best of form since recovering from an injury, and that continued in the derby defeat.
He had a poor game, didn’t look comfortable on the ball, and it won’t be a game that he will look back on very fondly. However, Bolingoli’s performance could open the door to another Celtic player. That man is Greg Taylor.
Interestingly, Taylor, who has been a bit of a recent mainstay for Scotland, wasn’t even on the bench for the Hoops for the derby.
Few would have predicted lack of game time
That is a situation that few would have predicted when he joined the club from Kilmarnock on transfer deadline day in September.
Taylor hasn’t played that many games for Celtic this season, he has made only 10 appearances so far. That hasn’t stopped Steve Clarke from picking him for Scotland though, which must be a boost to the player’s confidence.
At times Taylor has been third choice left-back at Celtic behind Bolingoli and Jonny Hayes this season. That is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue.
Taylor deserves a run of games in the side starting when Celtic return from the winter break against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.
Should be given run of games after winter break
That would give the player a chance to prove himself in the team, and show that he should be first-choice for the Hoops heading into some crucial fixtures.
Perhaps Neil Lennon will have this in mind when the team travel to Dubai for a week’s training during the winter break. He could spend the time working with Taylor, and encouraging him ahead of the return to competitive action.
With the nature of the title race, Celtic need to go on a winning run when they return to league action in a few weeks’ time. Picking the right team will help that, and it could be argued that Taylor should be in that team, ahead of Bolingoli.
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