For the first time this season Brendan Rodgers won’t be able to name Greg Taylor as his left-back when he picks his Celtic side to face Ross County tomorrow.
Since his return to the club in June the former Kilmarnock man has been selected for all 30 competitive matches played this season.
There has been no real competition or cover for Taylor this season but that will alter tomorrow when the SPFL Premiership season resumes with Ross County as visitors.
The Herald reports Rodgers saying:
Greg will be out for a few weeks. Towards the game at the weekend he felt a slight strain in his calf
So sadly he’s out, which is a shame because he’s been excellent and very consistent over the course of the season so far.
It seems that they nineteen day break may have contributed to the injury against Buckie, a match that Taylor saw through to the final whistle.
The heavy toll of fixtures in the first half of the season is simply a fact of modern day football with few alternatives to the former Kilmarnock man thin on the ground.
Alexandro Bernabei has made just four substitute appearances this season, a big decrease on his game time under Ange Postecoglou with his last action coming a month ago during the 2-0 home defeat from Hearts.
The Argentinian wasn’t included in Celtic’s Champions League squad which seems an accurate refection on where he features in the plans of Rodgers.
As an Academy product Mitchel Frame came on as a substitute during the Champions League win over Feyenoord and played in front of Taylor, catching the eye with some impressive, confident touches and movement.
Frame has just returned from injury, playing at left-back in the EPL International Cup win over Southampton’s u-23 side on Wednesday.
The other option open is to switch Liam Scales from central defence to left-back but that would risk stability in central defence with the Irishman a fixture in that position, playing alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh, Maik Nawrocki and Gus Lagerbielke.
CLICK HERE for Rodgers prepares for his Transfer Plan B.
🎥 🎯 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞
🖼️ Mitchel Frame scored the goal that sealed an impressive 3-1 victory for Celtic B away at Southampton on Wednesday.
It was a brilliant finish from the 18-year-old, and you can watch it below! ⬇️pic.twitter.com/4RZ8iE4fZl
— Celtic Youth & Loan Updates (@CelticYLUpdates) January 25, 2024
