The Celtic midfielder returned to his former club on loan last night.
Chris Sutton has expressed surprise at Celtic’s decision to loan Youssouf Mulumbu back to Kilmarnock on deadline day.
Mulumbu only moved to Celtic at the end of the summer transfer window, having allowed his contract to expire at Kille.
And he has only appeared on three occasions for Brendan Rodgers’ side, who are being rivalled for the title by the 32-year-old’s temporary employers.
Discussing Steve Clarke’s side via the BT Sport Facebook page earlier, Sutton said: “It’s interesting that Celtic have let them have Mulumbu. Kille are in the race, you have to say that.”
But Sutton’s fellow pundit, Michael Stewart, has suggested that while Celtic may have taken ‘a bit of a gamble’, Mulumbu’s exit could prove an inspired decision.
He replied: “When you think about it from Celtic’s perspective it makes a lot of sense. Because he can’t play against Celtic, obviously, and he can play against everyone else.”
But Stephen Craigan interjected to ask: “Doesn’t it make you think, why did he sign in the first place?
“Within a matter of months, within a couple of games, you ship him out again.
“That would tell me it’s a mistake he’s [Brendan Rodgers has] made. [He] shouldn’t have brought him in, in the first place.
“I think it tells me he’s probably writing Kilmarnock off: ‘Go and play for Kilmarnock because it’s not going to affect us.'”
Celtic signed four new players ready for immediate action in January, although none of those are recognised as naturals in Mulumbu’s central midfield position.
Kilmarnock trail Celtic by six points – the same amount as second-placed Rangers – heading into Friday’s game against Hearts.
The East Ayrshire side host the Bhoys in a fortnight’s time.
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