Do Steve Clarke’s comments explain why Youssouf Mulumbu struggled at Celtic?

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Youssouf Mulumbu joined Kilmarnock on loan from Celtic in the January transfer window.

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke has told The Daily Record that Celtic-owned midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu does not stand out in training.

Mulumbu joined Kilmarnock on loan from Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic on January transfer deadline day.

The 32-year-old midfielder moved to the Hoops in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer after leaving Killie at the end of last season.

Kilmarnock manager Clarke is happy to have the DR Congo international midfielder back in his team, and has said that he does not stand out in training.

Clarke told The Daily Record about Mulumbu: “I think he was late on his first day, so it was a case of Youssouf is back!

“He’s has never been one to stand out in training. He is a game player. Youssouf needs the big pitch and the game mentality before he comes to his best.”

Not succeeding at Celtic?

Kilmarnock do have a good team, but even then, Mulumbu makes their midfield much better.

At Celtic, though, the former West Bromwich Albion man had to compete with a lot of quality midfielders, and if he did not do well and stand out in training, then he was always going to struggle.

According to WhoScored, the midfielder was able to play just 85 minutes in the Europa League and made just one appearance in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic this season before his move to Kilmarnock on loan last month.