When it comes to areas of the team that Celtic need to address, it is usually the right-back position that is mentioned most.
That is understandable, as Mikael Lustig is coming towards the end of his career. Jeremy Toljan didn’t impress in his short time at the club.
More urgency required
However, events of recent weeks could force the Hoops to deal with another position with more urgency. That position is left-back.
In recent weeks Emilio Izaguirre has quit Celtic and Kieran Tierney has undergone a double hernia operation. That means that of the three players who were left-back last season, only Jonny Hayes will be fit and available for the start of the Champions League qualifiers.
Tierney will be fit and available sooner rather than later. But until then the Hoops might have to go with Hayes with no challenge to him.
Situation needs to be rectified
That needs to be rectified. What Neil Lennon has to do is bring in a left-back who will be good enough to replace Hayes, and challenge Tierney on a regular basis.
That could be easier said than done. But much as Hayes has done well at left-back for the Hoops last season, a real left-back should be playing if Tierney isn’t fit for the Champions League qualifiers.
Playing players who are not first choice due to injury has cost Hoops in the qualifiers before. They can stop it from happening this season by swooping for a new left-back.
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