Chris Sutton has noted in his Daily Record column that Ange Postecoglou should stick with the same midfield Celtic used in the last Old Firm derby as Reo Hatate is an absolute must.
The Bhoys make the trip across Glasgow to face Rangers on Sunday with a chance to pull six points clear. The Parkhead side currently top the Premiership table by a win after edging the Gers 3-0 in February. It was also only Rangers’ second league defeat this season so far.
Postecoglou elected to start Hatate with fellow January transfer Matt O’Riley and captain Callum McGregor for Rangers’ visit to Celtic. His call proved well thought out, with Hatate scoring twice before assisting Liel Abada – effectively ending the contest before half-time.
Celtic stormed out of the gates to hit Rangers cold at Parkhead and continued a relentless blitz on their guests. The second-half lacked the same sort of fizz as the Hoops eased off. Yet Joe Hart enjoyed a quiet afternoon between the sticks as the Gers rarely tested him.
Chris Sutton urges Postecoglou to start Reo Hatate so Celtic ‘dominate the ball’
Sutton now believes Postecoglou will be wise to stick with a midfield of Hatate, O’Riley and McGregor when Celtic visit Rangers on Sunday. He feels neither have produced displays to merit missing out, having proven crucial to taking a dominant result in the previous clash.
“If I’m Postecoglou, I’m sticking with the same midfield,” Sutton said. “Callum McGregor, of course, starts the game and will lead from the front. Beside him, you surely have to go for Reo Hatate after his two goals in the previous meetings of the sides.
“David Turnbull hasn’t played enough and, although I’m a fan of Nir Bitton, the Japanese has to be ahead of him in the queue because Postecoglou will want his team to dominate the ball. That leaves one final spot in the engine room.
“It’s between Matt O’Riley and Tom Rogic. One thing is for sure, you can’t start both of them at Ibrox. Both are sublime with the ball, but you couldn’t call them over-industrious and McGregor and Hatate will need assistance.”
Postecoglou has not started Hatate, O’Riley and McGregor together in the Celtic midfield for a Premiership fixture since beating St Mirren 2-0 on March 3. He favoured Tom Rogic over O’Riley against Livingston and Ross County. Bitton also started at Livi over Hatate.
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