Celtic’s left back indecisiveness could point to a Greg Taylor return

Could the door be opening at Celtic Park for a Greg Taylor return?

It’s no secret that Celtic are looking for a left back to compete with Kieran Tierney, and after the door was shut on a return for the popular Marcelo Saracchi, the likes of James Penrice, and Will Ferry were mentioned, but moves for both now appear unlikely.

Celtic searching for a back-up left back

That leaves us searching for an able candidate to step in and compete with KT at left back, and an interesting suggestion has emerged over the past week, with the name in question none other than former Celt Greg Taylor.

Greg Taylor is clearly a  talented player, despite the constant criticism he endured from the more overcritical element of our support, especially in his first few years as he was seen as a downgrade on the £25m Celtic star Kieran Tierney who was sold to Arsenal.

Taylor was highly respected by all his Celtic managers

Signed by Neil Lennon from Kilmarnock for £2 million back in 2019, Greg made a total of 216 appearances, scoring nine goals and winning 11 honours under Lennon, Ange Postecoglou, and Brendan Rodgers. Highly respected managers who all saw him as a vital part of the side.

Greg Taylor during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park, on 14 September 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

Taylor left Celtic last summer to join Greek side PAOK

Ironically Greg left the club after his contract expired last summer, as he decided to join Greek Super league side PAOK, a decision that was partly due to the return of Kieran Tierney, the man he was brought in to replace back in 2019. To be fair the chance to play abroad also was consideration in the decision taken by the Scotland international left-back whose caps total was also reduced by the presence of both Tierney and Scotland skipper Andy Robertson in the national side.

Now it’s being widely discussed on the socials, if he’s the man to bring on board to compete with his fellow Scotland International for a starting spot in Martin O’Neill’s new look Celtic side.

Taylor made 18 appearances for PAOK last season and ironically enough looks like being surplus to requirements this season at PAOK

Greg hasn’t exactly had a terrific time in Greece with PAOK, being restricted to just 18 appearances across all competitions, and is rumoured to be hankering for a move back home. In a video conversion on the golf course with Charlie Mulgrew, Taylor did NOT rule out a move back to Celtic.

Whether a move home to Scotland to return to Celtic is an option, it’s hard to know but it’s one worth discussing all the same as Celtic may well be exploring this at the moment.

Why I would like Greg Taylor to return to Celtic

Would you like to see Greg Taylor back in a Celtic jersey? I personally would. He knows the club and Scottish football inside out, and he’s a reliable player who knows what it takes to be successful. he plays the inverted full back role perfectly and it was no coincidence that we struggled to create out usual number of chances last year without him in the side.

He is also a big voice in the dressing room and a very popular member of the squad under all his manager’s who all spoke very highly of him.

Defensively he can be suspect, I accept that

Yes defensively he isn’t at KT’s level but with the two rotating it will be a case of tactical switches and watching the minutes we are asking Tierney to play.  He’s also Scottish which is going to help with the homegrown quota, something that the club will be looking at.

Martin O’Neill’s first hand knowledge of Greg Taylor will be limited but he has plenty of others inside the club who can give him a fair and reasonable assessment on what Greg Taylor would offer.

Yes many of us wanted Marcelo Saracchi back after his heroics last season. That doesn’t look like happening so my next choice from the names mentioned in despatches would certainly be Greg Taylor.

Happy to hear your arguments for or against this idea…

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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