Charlie Nicholas has urged Neil Lennon to forget about being loyal to his players and leave Scott Brown on the bench for the Scottish Cup Final.
The Celtic boss has hinted that he will bring back the likes of Brown and Ryan Christie after they were left out of the wins over Lille and Kilmarnock.
Many Hoops fans feel that the addition of David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro has helped re-energise the team after a dismal run of form but Lennon wants to go back to the team who got them to the cup final.
And that means Brown will return in midfield but former Celtic striker Nicholas insists it would be a bad idea, because he doesn't have the same level of influence.
Nicholas insists Brown's importance to the team has been on the wane since Brendan Rodgers left and it's time for him to stay sitting out.
He told the Daily Express: "I understand Ryan Christie returning but not the skipper.
"I accept Brown is captain and Callum McGregor does not have his personality, but his legs aren't there any more.
"He no longer has a big influence on the team. In the huge games over the last 18 months - Aberdeen and Hibs away, the Old Firm and Euro ties - it's been about his nuisance value, not what he does on the ball. His role diminished when Celtic scrapped Brendan Rodgers' style. He's a spoiler and that carries little relevance.
"He's still a big personality and he always gives 100% - but Celtic are not going to miss him if he doesn't play.
"He remains a figurehead and should lift the cup - if they win. But Lenny has to go with players in form, like Turnbull, Soro, Hazard and Moi Elyounoussi.
"Everything that's been asked of them, they've done. Would it be a risk too far to play them in a cup final? Definitely not.
"Do I understand loyalty? Of course. I'd have liked it a bit more as a player. But it's never been the fabric of successful teams. It's the ones who perform who stay.
"I know Hearts are in form but I still expect Celtic to win. And Lenny should continue with his shake-up by going for guys playing without fear.
"Soro, Turnbull and Hazard have given the team energy."
