Scotland boss Steve Clarke heaps praise on rising Celtic star

While Celtic are feeling the heat of the international break as a number of their players seem to have picked up potential injury problems, some are amassing deserved recognition from their national team managers. Likewise, the Hoops’ left-back Greg Taylor seems to have impressed Scotland manager Steve Clarke.

Emerging through the youth ranks of the Rangers and then Kilmarnock, Taylor has always been rated very highly in Scotland. In the summer of 2019, however, he made his career-changing move to Celtic.

While the likes of FC Nurnberg and Sunderland were also believed to have been interested in the Scottish left-back, he went on to join Celtic. Having been at the club more than three seasons now, he finally seems to be close to nailing down his spot in the starting XI.

Under the management of Ange Postecoglou, the full-back has made notable improvements, with the 24-year-old now looking like the manager’s go-to figure at left-back, which is even more impressive when you consider that the club signed Alexandro Bernabei this summer for a decent transfer fee and he became the Hoops’ first ever Argentine player in the process.

Scotland manager heaps praise on Celtic left-back

Taylor is currently on the international break with Scotland. Speaking to Largs and Millport News, Clarke said regarding the Celtic left-back:

"“Greg’s determination to do well was apparent to me as soon as I walked in the door at Kilmarnock. I know he wants to get better.“He has moved to a bigger club, he has handled the expectation and pressure of playing at that bigger club, any time I have asked him to perform for the national team he has done very well.“So no worries about Greg and you want that all over the pitch.”"

Scotland play Ukraine in what will be their last group-stage fixture in the 2022/23 season of the UEFA Nations League. They beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 to reach the top of the group in League B on Saturday.

In that game, Taylor came on as a first-half substitute to replace Kieran Tierney and earned a lot of plaudits for his display. It is expected that he will keep his place in Clarke’s starting line-up for their game against Ukraine on Tuesday evening, with the Arsenal star not expected to start.