No matter how much a manager chooses to rotate there is always a first choice for each position. Even in the spoiled for choice environment at the biggest of clubs, those with the most expensively assembled squads, with three players for every position, every manager knows who his first eleven would be if everyone was fit.

And in that changing room players know it too, but they also know they can change a manager’s opinion – for the better or for the worse.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will set about the job of trying to add quality to Celtic’s squad this summer with stakes set higher for the club as Celtic keep company with the best of Europe’s sides in the Champions League.

One position that will be strengthened is at left back, with Greg Taylor arguably the only natural left back option at the club fully trusted by the manager. But one trusted left back is never going to be enough.

So, Greg Taylor will have competition again next season, but according to his former boss Lee Clark – the manager who converted Taylor from a holding midfielder into a left-back – as reported in Daily Record, Taylor’s got what it takes to ensure he remains the managers first pick due to a genuine will to work hard and a determination learn everything he can.

“I saw this boy in the Under-20s who had a great desire and determination. He was left-footed and I asked the staff if he’d ever played left-back. They said he’d been playing more as a defensive midfielder. We had a dead rubber against Dundee United and I made a few changes. It was a rubbish game but he was outstanding.

“He was brilliant. I’m not surprised how he’s kicked on since then. It’s down to the players the success they go on to achieve. Greg is now playing in big European games, title deciders, Scottish Cup Finals, you name it. It’s brilliant and no doubt he’ll keep at it.

“The one thing he has is that real Scottish mentality – he never gives up. All that type of stuff, the criticism or doubts, that just makes him get on the training pitch and work even harder to achieve even more. I’ve seen it. He’s one of those players you need to drag off the training ground. He always wants to improve.

“He’s constantly asking managers and coaches to stay out and do extra work. I’ve got no doubt he’s been doing that. Even when it’s going well, he doesn’t rest on laurels. When things go against him, he sees it as a challenge. He’s passed every test with flying colours. He was out the team injured and got back in, even with lots of competition.

“Greg’s played a major part in the positive turnaround at Celtic. I can’t speak highly enough. He’s a Scotland international and everything he gets is well deserved.”

Greg Taylor arrived at Celtic expected to play second fiddle to Boli Bolingoli, and with the shadow of Kieran Tierney hanging over him, he quickly saw off that challenge. He also had to contend with Diego Laxalt arriving on an expensive loan with an impressive reputation, and even when Laxalt initially showed promise as soon as standards dropped Taylor grabbed his opportunity and proved the most secure option.

This season Taylor has been a player who has stood out as one who embraced the demands of Ange Postecoglou, adapted well to the role of the inverted full back, and then, even with Liam Scales coming to the club and opportunities offered to new kid on the block Adam Montgomery, Taylor nailed down the position as his own, through a willingness to embrace change and in the main impressive and consistent performances.

This summer a new face to push Greg Taylor is almost nailed on to arrive, and force the full back to fight for that starting place again. Yet having already seen off at least four challengers for his shirt in his time with Celtic you wouldn’t put it past Greg Taylor to kick on again.

In his mind Ange Postecoglou will always have his first choice eleven, no matter how much he rotates. If everyone was fit, he will know which eleven players he would send out there.

And given Greg Taylor’s constant improvement and a willingness to improve you can be certain whoever comes into Celtic this summer they will have a fight on their hands for that left back position, and you wouldn’t bet against Taylor coming out on top yet again.

Niall J

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