If Nat Phillips is fit Brendan Rodgers should get him right into the starting line up at the expense of Gustav Lagerbielke, starting on Saturday against Livingston.
Nat Phillips has only played 45 minutes for the club and has been suffering recently with an ankle injury. Brendan Rodgers confirmed at his media conference earlier today that he is a doubt for Livingston on Saturday, but there is still a chance he’ll make it.
For me if he’s fit he should be put him straight in the starting XI alongside Liam Scales. I know it’s the diabolical surface at Livingston – David Martindale’s Magic Carpet – but Phillips has got to be worth a shot. Not just against Livi, but also for the game at Fir Park next week against Motherwell.
That’s not a quick judgment on Gustav Lagerbielke, it’s due to the fact that the Swede is suspended for the vital visit of Lazio at the start of October and Nat will be our only fit centre half going into that game.
It’s imperative that Nat Phillips gets some much needed match fitness and gets to form a relationship with Liam Scales at the back. The on loan Liverpool defender looked short of match sharpness in that first half against Dundee at the weekend and it is crucial that he gets up to speed before we play the Italian side in the Champions League.
We all know to our cost that your weaknesses get punished at this level and Lazio are sure to be well aware of Celtic injury and suspension problems at the centre of our defence. A Phillip-Scales partnership is looking like our best option so getting them two matches playing together would be helpful.
Hopefully Nat’s fighting fit and raring to go as two tough away games under his belt will set him up nicely for the visit of the Serie A side.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Lazio is coming and they will forgive nothing, be ready.