Celtic could regret letting the ‘unbelievable’ Craig Gordon leave and replacing him with £4.5 million Greek international Vasilis Barkas, Kevin Kyle has told Open Goal.
He may be 37 but there is still plenty of life left in this old dog.
Gordon rolled back the years during a superb goalkeeping performance as Hearts narrowly triumphed over Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday, setting up a reunion with his old employers at Hampden Park in December.
All the while, a man Celtic signed for £4.5 million as Gordon’s successor was twiddling his thumbs on the bench as Neil Lennon’s team swept aside Aberdeen in their own last-four clash 24 hours later.
Former AEK Athens stopper Barkas has endured a mixed start to life in Glasgow, and has lost his place to Scott Bain since a high-profile error in the 2-0 Old Firm defeat to Rangers almost two weeks ago.
Ex-Scotland international Kyle is wondering whether Celtic should have kept their faith in a man who continues to laugh in the face of Father Time.
“(It was) an unbelievable save from Craig Gordon,” Kyle said, reflecting on a superb stop that kept out Kevin Nisbet on Saturday.
“I mean, Celtic fans must be looking at that side thinking, we’ve got Barkas in goal. (Gordon) would’ve caught the first header in the Old Firm the other week.”
Of course, Barkas should not be written off after one mistake in the most high-pressure fixture imaginable.
The 2018 Greek Superleague champion still boasts cat-like reflexes and the kind of confidence in possession that will only help Celtic begin their build-up play from the back.
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