Chris Sutton has described Nir Bitton as a ‘bonus’ for Ange Postecoglou in his Daily Record column, while noting the vital presence captain Callum McGregor has in the Celtic midfield.
Postecoglou has been tight-fisted with chances for Bitton to start in the Bhoys engine room so far this season. With the midfielder only opening four of his seven Premiership outings.
The 30-year-old has also watched five games from the bench as an unused substitute. And has only started three further games across seven appearances in cup competitions so far.
Half of Bitton’s Premiership starts since Postecoglou took charge at Parkhead also came in Celtic’s last two matches. Anchoring the midfield core against Livingston and Dundee.
Yet despite his limited chances to feature, Sutton still feels the 37-cap Israel international is a ‘bonus’ for Postecoglou. But no player can cover for what Celtic lose without McGregor.
“I actually believe having Bitton is a bonus,” Sutton wrote. “I have sympathy in the fact he signed as a central midfield player and ended up being the guy who ended up at centre-half every time a Champions League qualifier came around.
“He’s now back in a position he prefers, but there is no denying that Celtic lose the sharpness and quickness of their passing game if McGregor is not in the pivot role.
“While Bitton can do a job, no-one can deny Postecoglou’s team miss something when the captain is not in that specific area. We’ve already seen it this season when he was out.”
Should Postecoglou start Bitton more often in Celtic’s Premiership fixtures?
An injury for Tom Rogic against Hibernian forced Postecoglou to turn to Bitton for Celtic’s meetings with Livingston and Dundee.
Postecoglou expected Rogic’s hamstring issue would keep the Australian out until after the international break. So, may welcome the 28-year-old back against St Johnstone next week.
Bitton will hope he has shown enough for Postecoglou to keep the £14k-a-week midfielder in the Celtic line-up, though.
He offered a calm and assured presence against Livingston, before replacing Carl Starfelt at centre-back. And was not afraid to push on against Dundee and paired well with McGregor.
But Postecoglou will likely recall Rogic over Bitton if the Celtic star has overcome his injury.
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