Chris Sutton believes Tom Rogic was an ‘irreplaceable’ presence in the Celtic engine room, but has backed Matt O’Riley to fill the released midfielder’s void in a Daily Record column.
Rogic left Parkhead at the end of last season, despite having a year left on his contract with the Hoops. Ange Postecoglou had looked to give the Australian a new deal after he held an influential role in his plans, per Anthony Joseph, but accepted he wanted a fresh challenge.
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The 29-year-old had spent the past nine years in Glasgow after joining the Bhoys for £400k from Central Coast Mariners. Over that time, Rogic enjoyed 272 appearances, 46 goals and laid on 49 assists in all competitions. He also helped win the Premiership title seven times.
Rogic also touched silverware at Celtic with five Scottish Cup trophies and five League Cup crowns. Yet the 52-cap international is still currently a free agent since walking away from Parkhead, having rejected a move to Indonesian team Persija Jakarta, per The Scottish Sun.
Several A-League outfits have also explored taking Rogic back to Australia, where he won a title with Central Coast Mariners. But no side has yet agreed terms with Rogic, who scored six and created six goals over 32 Premiership appearances on route to the title last season.
Chris Sutton thinks Celtic released an ‘irreplaceable’ talent in Tom Rogic exit
Sutton doubts Celtic have or can sign a player to replace Rogic after Postecoglou agreed to his release. But he believes O’Riley can step in beside Reo Hatate to fill out the Hoops core with captain Callum McGregor after his £1.5m, plus add-ons, January move from MK Dons.
“O’Riley and Hatate, to my eye, look the first-choices beside McGregor, and they are going to have to back him up,” Sutton wrote. “From what I’ve seen, they are capable. More than capable. O’Riley will, of course, have to step up again to fill the void left by Tom Rogic.
“The Aussie is irreplaceable in that you won’t get anyone who can replicate what he had in terms of touch and talent. But O’Riley showed plenty in that second half of last season he can produce in his own style. To say he hit the ground running is an understatement.
“He slotted immediately into the system and the side, and his performances were high level. O’Riley has good vision, good passing, the eye for a goal and he can make things happen in the final third, as well as doing some defensive duties.”
O’Riley made 20 appearances for Celtic after signing a four-and-a-half-year contract in the winter sales earlier in 2022. He also hit four goals and two assists across all competitions in Postecoglou’s plans, and only featured on the losing side three times – never in the league.
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