Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gabriel McKay

Chris Sutton issues Celtic depth warning as he pinpoints the transfer risk Hoops are running

Celtic legend Chris Sutton has warned his old side don't have enough strength in depth to compete for all three domestic trophies in the coming season.

Neil Lennon 's side are going for a historic 10th title in a row, and could yet be defending a quadruple treble with the 2019-20 Scottish Cup final still to come.

But speaking on the Record Celtic podcast, Sutton warned that there simply isn't sufficient depth as things stand.

And he urged the Hoops board to get working on improving the squad.

Sutton said: "Are you telling me, unless Celtic are unbelievably lucky, that they can go through the season with the strength in depth currently in the squad?

"With a goalkeeper who, with the greatest respect, isn't a number one at Celtic. With the Griffiths situation up in the air, not knowing what's going to happen with him.

"Are you telling me that Celtic have a squad depth strong enough to win another treble? I didn't think so."

Celtic won the title last season despite losing the likes of Moi Elyounoussi, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Ryan Christie to injury.

But Sutton insists there are some players Lennon simply does not have cover for.

He asked: "Can Celtic do without Odsonne Edouard? When I played at Celtic, if (Henrik) Larsson was injured we'd have John Hartson or myself who could play that role.

Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton celebrate in Amsterdam in 2001 (SNS Group)

"I'm not saying we could replace Larsson, he used to bail us out all the time!

"But you get my point, there isn't a replacement for Odsonne Edouard. There isn't a replacement for Christopher Jullien.

"So if anything happens to these players - and injuries happen in football, we're all aware of that - who's going to fill the void? Who's going to come in and step up and do a job which these players have done?

"The manager will be sitting on the bench week in and week out with his fingers crossed praying that he doesn't get injuries to key men.

"We've spoken about the midfield area, that's the only area where you could look at Celtic and say: 'Do you know what? I think they're alright there'.

"Every other area on the pitch is a massive, massive concern for me.

"Neil's not daft, Neil will be aware of that.

"Right-back might be OK because you've got Elyounoussi, you've got Elhamed, but you're looking at the wide areas thinking James Forrest, who has been such a consistent performer, if he gets injured and is out for a while it's not the same.

"Neil will have to be so, so lucky in terms of his main men staying fit to win every trophy this season - at this moment in time.

"Everybody can see what needs to be done, they just need to do it."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.