Rodgers considers three left back options as Taylor stand-ins

The calf injury picked up by Celtic’s mainstay left-back Greg Taylor in the closing stages of the Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Buckie Thistle on Sunday evening at Celtic Park has given Brendan Rodgers a birthday headache as he considers his options this morning on the training ground at Lennoxtown.

Celtic v Atletico Madrid – Greg Taylor of Celtic FC during the Champions League match between Celtic and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park, on 25 October 2023. Photo Colin Poultney PSI

Celtic are back in Scottish Premiership action tomorrow against Ross County at Celtic Park and when the team-sheet is announced at round 1.45pm the Celtic support’s eyes will invariably head to the third name on the list to see who has been selected for the role as Taylor’s stand-in presumably for the next two or three weeks.

So who are the contenders and what are the pros and cons for each player? Let’s have a closer look…

ALEXANDRO BERNABEI

A £3.75m signing from Argentinian side Lanus by Ange Postecoglou in June 2022, Bernabei has failed to gain regular first team football at Celtic. He has however scored against Ross County and as they are an opponent at Celtic Park who will sit with a low block, his strengths as an attacking wing-back could be utilised by the current Celtic manager.

Bernabei was one of the players rumoured to be surplus to requirements in this transfer window with reported interest from Italy and his homeland in Argentina but that was all before the window actually opened and things have been quite throughout January on this speculation.

Alexandro Bernabei controls the ball during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Heart of Midlothian at on March 08, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Bernabei, like young Rocco Vata, annoyed Brendan Rodgers earlier in the season by being late for a team meeting, and both players clearly dropped out of the first team reckoning as Rodgers showed the squad who is boss. Rocco got some redemption last weekend and could have found the door to a Celtic future is open after all. Taylor’s injury could do the same for Alexandro starting this weekend but he’ll have to show stronger defensive qualities rather than just being a frustrated winger playing out of position in the back four.

MITCHEL FRAME

On the bench as an unused substitute in Madrid the night we were mauled by Atletico, Mitchel Frame came on to make his debut in the Champions League win over Dutch Champions Feyenoord and his attacking attributes were there to admire. Frame won the corner that resulted on Matt O’Riley’s brilliant assist for Gustaf Lagerbielke’s winner – a much needed Champions League tonic for everyone connected with Celtic after another bruising campaign. At least the money is good! Mitchel also starred in that incredible Youth Cup Final win over theRangers at the end of last season, that was live on TV.

3rd May 2023 Hampden Scottish FA Youth Cup Final, theRangers versus Celtic Mitchel Frame of Celtic celebrates scoring Photo ActionPlus Vagelis Georgariou

Back in the day Ronny Deila had the faith in a young Kieran Tierney as the experienced and popular Emilio Izaguirre stepped aside for the Celtic Academy project. Maybe history could be about to repeat itself with Mitchel Frame getting his back chance?

LIAM SCALES

If it wasn’t for Matt O’Riley, Liam Scales would be everyone’s choice Celtic’s Player of the Year, but as it stands he’s in line for the runners-up slot in that particular contest. Scales is an unlikely Celtic success story this season. In the summer that old Celtic warrior Barry Robson was pestering Brendan Rodgers to sanction a permanent transfer deal for the Irish defender to return to Pittodrie after impressing in a loan spell last season.

Rodgers had allowed Carl Starfelt to leave to join Celta Vigo and had signed not one but two central defenders in the aforementioned Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki. Stephen Welsh was handed a new contract and Cameron Carter-Vickers – clearly Celtic’s best defender – was coming back from injury. With all that going on Barry Robson must have been confident that he’d get his man.

20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Liam Scales of Celtic, Gustaf Lagerbielke of Celtic and Maik Nawrocki of Celtic

Fate intervened as often happens in football and with central defensive injuries to three of the four ahead of Scales, he started alongside Lagerbielke at Ibrox in early September and was Man of the Match as Celtic secured a vital 1-0 victory. He went onto make his international debut and is now a first pick in both the Celtic and Ireland teams as a left sided central defender, which incidentally is his best position.

Ange Postecoglou, when he used Scales last season, tended to play him as a left-back, a position he played often for Shamrock Rovers before his £500k move to Celtic in August 2021. So Scales could be given the nod to stand in for Greg Taylor on Saturday and that would allow Brendan Rodgers to chance to watch a Nawocki/CCV partnership, assuming The Big Strong Man is ready to start after his latest injury set-back.