Chris Sutton has voiced his sympathy for Shin Yamada after the Japanese striker was axed from Celtic’s Europa League squad just days after appearing in the Glasgow Derby.
Yamada came off the bench at Ibrox during Celtic’s 0-0 draw with Rangers last weekend, offering a glimpse of what he might bring to the squad. But that outing has proved short-lived, with Brendan Rodgers leaving him out of the club’s 24-man European squad submitted earlier this week.
Writing in his RecordSport column, Sutton couldn’t hide his frustration with how the situation has unfolded. “Why are four of the summer signings not in the Europa League squad? That says it all.
“Shin Yamada comes off the bench at Ibrox while Johnny Kenny isn’t in the squad but the roles are reversed days later. I feel sorry for Yamada. I don’t think he’s a world beater, but he’s shown signs he could be useful. Now he’s been caught in the crossfire.”
Yamada’s omission is another symptom of a wider squad management issue that has seen Celtic’s summer business come under increasing scrutiny.
40% of Celtic’s summer signings didn’t make the Europa League squad, and included is keeper Ross Doohan, who, let’s face it, won’t play a single minute.
It was a disasterious summer for Celtic, all thinsg considered. There is increased pressure on the board to come out and speak publicly. We’ll be lucky to get something on Celtic TV at this rate.
Brendan Rodgers will be quiet, until Celtic’s next match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The manager will face the media, and they’ll be searching for answers for what happened during the summer.
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