John Hartson says Nat Phillips doesn’t start for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic despite his summer loan move from Liverpool.
On paper, it could be argued that the experienced Liverpool man is better than Liam Scales and Celtic boss Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back.
But the only reason Liam Scales started the season was because of back injuries and John Hartson was amazed by his “impressive” performance, as he told Go Radio.
It left the Bhoys legend in no doubt that if a “really tough” game was around the corner, Liam Scales would start alongside the American.
It should be remembered that Nat Phillips is on loan at the club until January, he only joined to cover the injuries of Cameron Carter-Vickers and the still sidelined Maik Nawrock.
However, the Englishman managed just 152 minutes, not another 90, and injuries marred his own start to the campaign – Celtic’s 3-1 win against Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Who starts at centre-back for Celtic?
“He (Scales) stays in the team, as far as I am concerned,” said Hartson. “He has been that good and that impressive at left-side centre-back.
“He’s comfortable on the ball. He can pass it out from the back and take it out from the back by marauding forward. When he plays it wide, he fizzes it wide. A proper passer of the ball. Defends well. Defends his box. Goes and heads it. And he is really comfortable in possession. Doesn’t panic or look like he is under pressure. He has been so impressive. This was a player who was back to Aberdeen at the start of the season.
“For me, I think it’s Carter-Vickers and Scales. You have Lagerbielke and Nat Phillips, who we have brought in from Liverpool. You have Nawrocki and Welsh.
“Other than Brendan making a decison where he wants to bring him out and play one or two of the others. But who is the best fit right now if you are going in against a really tough opposition, then I would go for Carter-Vickers and Scales.”
Nat Phillips still has a lot more to offer
Hopefully, this isn’t another Shane Duffy-like move because it would be a real shame for the player.
Phillips has more to offer for this Celtic side, it’s just a case of getting fully fit, regular minutes under his belt and then fans can really see what he is about.
It might be the case that Carter-Vickers and Scales are the starting two in Rodgers’ eyes.
But with key Champions League games coming up after the international break, you would imagine Phillips will earn his starts then.
