Chris Sutton has named five Celtic players in his SPFL Premiership Select for the first part of the season.
Celtic’s 3-0 win at St Mirren on Tuesday brought the season to a halt with the next full Premiership card coming on January 27 with Ross County making their second visit to Celtic Park.
Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley are very obvious choices for any select side from the first part of the season but there are arguments for and against the others included by Sutton.
With Reo Hatate out injured for two spells McGregor and O’Riley have taken on an extra burden, one that they have responded to in style with the captain showing increased leadership qualities and O’Riley notching 10 SPFL goals, last season he had to wait until February for his first goal.
🔢 Who makes your Scottish Premiership team of the season so far?
Chris Sutton & Kris Boyd name their XI’s, with players who have featured for Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Hearts, Kilmarnock & Rangers included ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4chYp7RSur
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 4, 2024
The inclusion of Carter-Vickers ahead of Scales requires scrutiny but could be explained by choosing Frankie Kent on the left side which leaves the American internationalist to partner up on the right. Greg Taylor, ever present for the league leaders will probably have a wry smile at being overlooked at right back.
Kyogo Furuhashi has been sparing with his goals but two of his eight in the SPFL have been the decisive strikes in the Glasgow Derby.
Any goal is valued and useful but in that fixture is genuinely a six pointer, without Kyogo’s goals Celtic wouldn’t be in top place going into the break.
Luis Palma is clearly the pick of Celtic’s summer signings, he earns a place in Sutton’s Select based on strong stats but there is a feeling that there should be more goals and assists for the amount of possession that he enjoys.
With an eight point gap, even with two more games played the initiative is with Celtic with most fans hoping that there are a few more players in hoops making it into the end Select- with Premiership winners medals.
Sutton’s Premiership Select: Butland; Tavernier, Carter-Vickers, Kent, Cochrane; Palma, O’Riley, McGregor, Sima; Shankland, Kyogo.
CLICK HERE for Brendan Rodgers’ transfer expectations.
CLICK HERE for Sky Sports highlights of the Glasgow Derby.
