Nir Bitton has not been in great form for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this season.
David Hay has written in The Glasgow Evening Times that Nir Bitton should not be as petulant as he has reportedly been recently.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Bitton was recently sent off from the Israel camp due to a row with national team head coach Elisha Levy.
The 25-year-old defensive midfielder reportedly refused to accept the role of a substitute for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Albania on Saturday.
Former Celtic midfielder and manager Hay has suggested that Bitton should not be petulant.
The former FC Ashdod midfielder has not been in good form for Celtic this season. The Israel international could lose his place in Brendan Rodgers’s starting lineup.
Celtic’s Nir Bitton with Moussa Dembele
“It was not so long ago that Bitton was being talked about as the next player that would doubtless be Premiership bound from Celtic but since the turn of the year his performances have dried up,” Hay wrote in The Glasgow Evening Times.
“Now, Stuart Armstrong is challenging him for that position – and I thought that he was outstanding in the weekend win over Inverness.
“Bitton cannot afford to be as petulant as he has reportedly been with his national side. It is fair enough to challenge a decision and to ask for an explanation but ultimately the final shout has to rest with the manager.
“Certainly, he has not been at the races with Celtic this season and I think the way that Armstrong is playing, he could finds himself under pressure to stay in the team.”
Nir Bitton (R) in action with Jackson Irvine (L)
Celtic are at the top of the Scottish Premiership table at the moment with 31 points from 11 matches, 10 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen with a game in hand.
The Glasgow giants will take on Kilmarnock away from home at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership next week.
The Hoops are firm favourites to win the Scottish Premiership title this season.
Celtic’s Nir Bitton (R) celebrates scoring
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
