Chris Sutton weighs in on Celtic striker dilemma against Rangers as only one of four options can be 'trusted'
The former Celtic and Chelsea number nine believes there is only one man suitable to lead the line at Ibrox for Sunday’s Old Firm Scottish Cup clash.
As Celtic prepare to face Rangers in Govan for the second time in the space of a week, Martin O’Neill has plenty of selection dilemmas to ponder.
The Scottish Cup quarter-final will give the Hoops a chance to book their place at Hampden as title race matters take a back seat for the weekend. After Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Ibrox, the Celtic boss will have a fresh idea of what he’ll be up against for round two of the double header. In what was a game of two halves last weekend, Celtic created next to nothing in the first half and went into the break two goals down, thanks to a Youssef Chermiti brace. However, Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate rallied an inspired second half comeback to share the spoils at Ibrox.
Up front, O’Neill has four available options - Junior Adamu, Tomas Cvancara, Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda. It was Adamu who started last weekend but struggled to make his mark on the game, while Cvancara was named in the starting XI for their 2-1 midweek win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Sutton vouches for Maeda start in Old Firm
Most of Celtic’s goals have come from midfield of late, with Benjamin Nygren being the in form man in terms of output. Amid poor form of each of Celtic’s attacking options, Sutton believes only one man can start at Ibrox in the cup.
He wrote in his Record Sport column: "Who knows what’s happening with Kelechi Iheanacho as he only can play in Europe it seems, while Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu haven’t shown yet they are the ones who can be trusted to lead the line. That leaves Daizen Maeda again.
“He made a difference through the middle in the second half last week and I’d expect him to get the call again this time. But he’s really going to have to rediscover his goal scoring touch, otherwise it’s going to be another struggle. Then there’s how to fit in the great enigma that is Benjamin Nygren, who needs to be on the pitch for his goal threat but it means Celtic can’t control games in midfield.”
Sutton on centre back conundrum
Martin O’Neill will also have to make a big call in defence on who will start alongside Liam Scales in defence. Auston Trusty, who has been suspended for the last two games, would be the obvious choice but he would need to get back up to match fitness sharply.
20 year-old Brentford loanee Benjamin Arthur started against Aberdeen and showed maturity beyond his years in the Pittodrie win. He could potentially come in for Dane Murray, whose mistake led to Chermiti’s second last weekend, but other than that has looked fairly solid in recent weeks. Sutton expects Trusty to slot straight back into the heart of the defence given the inexperience of the alternatives.
He continued: “At the back, you’d expect O’Neil to draft in Auston Trusty, despite Benjamin Arthur showing up well at Pittodrie and Dane Murray winning everything in the air at Ibrox in the league game. Trusty just has that experience – but he has to keep it simple rather than thinking he’s a player. What is clear is, if Celtic are to kick on and claim silverware this season, their performance levels have to improve."