Aside from Kasper Schmeichel’s injury, the recent international break did Celtic the world of good because it allowed the players to reset after that horror show in the Glasgow derby.
To nobody’s surprise, the champions-elect did what they do best, and that’s put on a show as Celtic proved to be too strong for Hearts.
The starting XI from Rodgers made interesting reading because everyone was eager to see how the Celtic manager would react to that Rangers loss.
For some of the squad players, this was the chance to return to the XI and perhaps stake a claim for regular minutes with the 2024/25 season in its final few months.
But, for one man, the signs are pretty clear that returning to the XI is now a no-no, as the exit door looms.
Celtic’s Greg Taylor backed to secure ‘refreshing’ summer move to Dinamo Zagreb
For months and months, everyone was waiting to see if Greg Taylor would sign a new contract, but now it’s obvious that his time is up.
From Rodgers defending the 27-year-old in the media to not even picking him now, even if Taylor wanted to stay, he would be on the bench most of the time.
That’s why Tam McManus feels, at Taylor’s age, he needs to move on, and he backed the Scotland international to secure a ‘refreshing’ summer move to Dinamo Zagreb, as he told PLZ Soccer.
The Croatian champions will be looking to compete in the Champions League again next season, so in that sense, he would remain playing at an elite level.
“I think he has been a great signing for Celtic,” said McManus. “He is a player the supporters have used as a scapegoat at various times.
“A lot of mistakes and he has been the scapegoat for it when they lose games. But I think he has improved. I think Brendan Rodgers has improved him as a player, the same as Postecoglou when he came in. I think he has been a really, really solid left-back.
“He’s at an age now where he has to play every week. He isn’t going to come in and play second fiddle or even third fiddle at Celtic.
“I think it would be refreshing for him. There have been a lot of talk about Dinamo Zagreb, the club were looking at him. To go and play in Croatia. It’s something entirely different and he will play every week. Usually in the Champions League.
“I think he has been a really good signing for Celtic. When he signed from Kilmarnock. You are thinking, ‘maybe a squad player’. But he has seen off quite a few left-backs at Celtic and that’s credit to him. It probably shows you how good a player he is.”
Taylor’s Celtic career in numbers
Taylor was signed by Neil Lennon from Kilmarnock in 2019 and he has gone on to have a quite outstanding career.
There is no doubt that, in recent times, he has divided opinion and perhaps the criticism towards him has been a little harsh.
But his numbers in Celtic colours, as well as the medals he has collected, speak for themselves.
