It is hard to believe now that, as recently as 2018, Barry Douglas was a genuine challenger to Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson for a place in Scotland’s starting XI.
That is how impressive his short-lived spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers was.
These days, the Leeds United bench-warmer cannot even force himself ahead of an out-of-position Stuart Dallas – let alone two of the finest left-backs in European football.
A relentless series of injuries certainly haven’t helped but to say Douglas’s move from Wolves to West Yorkshire has been a disappointment would be one hell of an understatement.
The Glasgow-born £5 million man might be the only natural left-back in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, but he currently finds himself behind Gianni Alioski, Jack Harrison and Dallas in the pecking order at Elland Road.
As a result, Gordon Strachan’s gushing praise hasn’t exactly aged well, even if the Leeds legend was absolutely on the money at the time.
“A great signing,” Douglas’s former international boss Strachan told the YEP in 2018. “He was a bit unfortunate when I was in Scotland manager, because I had four or five great left-backs at the time. I could’ve made a team out of left backs.
“He was fantastic at Wolves and he’ll be great at Leeds. He’s a smart signing.”
In one year at a Wolves side who romped to the Championship title in 2017/18, Douglas produced five goals and a league-high 14 assists from his left-wing back role.
In two years at Leeds, that tally falls to no goals and five assists.
And with Sky claiming that Celtic have identified the former Queen’s Park and Dundee United man as a replacement for the bothersome Boli Bolingoli, Douglas is in danger of missing out on Premier League football for the second time in two years.
Yet with Neil Lennon experimenting with a wing-back system since the turn of the year, Douglas could be a man reborn north of the border.
When fit and firing, he combines the defensive diligence of Greg Taylor with the attacking intent and pinpoint crossing of Bolingoli, combining the disparate strengths of Celtic’s existing left-backs.
Odsonne Edouard will be licking his lips at the prospect of throwing himself at a typically devilish Douglas delivery.
Former Celtic boss Strachan said he was a ‘smart’ signing for Leeds. Well, with his price-tag dropping after two years on the sidelines, he could be an inspired one for Celtic.
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