Stuart Findlay is set to sign for Kilmarnock after leaving Newcastle United, but should the centre-back have been given a second chance at Celtic?
Stuart Findlay was never given his break at Celtic and featured just once at Newcastle United, but the talented defender appears to have finally found a good home at Rugby Park.
The 22-year-old shone on loan at Kilmarnock during the 2017/18 season as Steve Clarke’s impressive side sealed a fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership. And it is understood that Findlay will now commit his future to Killie after being released following two years on the books of Newcastle, as reported by the Express (3 June, page 46).
But never mind Newcastle, have Celtic missed a trick not handing Findlay a second chance to impress at Parkhead?
The Scotland U21 ace started his professional career at Parkhead but never made an appearance for the Hoops’ first team, instead spending time out on loan at Morton, Dumbarton and Kilmarnock (again) before joining Newcastle when his contract expired.
Ironically enough, however, Celtic need a centre-back right now and Findlay would look right at home at Parkhead on last season’s evidence.
The Hoops paid £1.5 million to sign Jack Hendry from Dundee in January yet the fellow youngster struggled to find his feet in green and white. And you could certainly make the argument that Findlay is the man Celtic should have gone for.
After all, he knows the club, would only improve under Brendan Rodgers and would give Celtic a potential long-term successor for Dedryck Boyata should he depart this summer.
But with Killie closing in, Celtic have missed a chance to rectify what could prove to be a big mistake
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