---
title: "Celtic: Alan Hutton backs Greg Taylor to slot into Hoops line-up with ease"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-alan-hutton-backs-greg-taylor-to-slot-into-hoops-line-up-with-ease/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-09-24T19:35:05Z"
modified: "2019-09-24T19:35:05Z"
---

# Celtic: Alan Hutton backs Greg Taylor to slot into Hoops line-up with ease

**[Former Scotland defender](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alan-hutton/profil/spieler/9619) Alan Hutton has backed Celtic’s Greg Taylor to make the left-back slot his own in the Hoops’ line-up.**

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hell-slot-into-celtic-team-with-ease-exclusive-hutton-raves-about-youngster-yet-to-debut/), the [ex-Aston Villa man](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alan-hutton/profil/spieler/9619) revealed that he is a big admirer of the 21-year-old, who [joined Celtic from Kilmarnock on transfer deadline day](https://www.celticfc.net/news/16752) at the start of the month, and thinks he will become Neil Lennon’s first choice at left-back.

Taylor was signed nearly a month after Celtic sold Kieran Tierney to Arsenal for £25m, as reported by [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49283667), and Hutton described the recent Hoops recruit as “[an exciting signing](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hell-slot-into-celtic-team-with-ease-exclusive-hutton-raves-about-youngster-yet-to-debut/)”

As reported by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hell-slot-into-celtic-team-with-ease-exclusive-hutton-raves-about-youngster-yet-to-debut/), Hutton added: “I’ve seen him a lot at Kilmarnock. He’s one that’s really done well; he’s really blossomed as a player and Celtic see that.

“I think that’s the kind of player that they need, somebody with experience, been there, done it, played a lot of games at a young age and I believe he’ll slot into the Celtic team with ease, really.

“He’s probably a guy, it’s a bit unfair to say, because Tierney’s done so well, but he’s very much in that mould. I think it’s a good fit for them and it’s a good fit for him and I think he’ll do well.”

Hutton is justified in saying that Taylor has plenty of experience for a player of such tender years. The [left-back doesn’t turn 22 until this November](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/profil/spieler/362562), but he has already accrued [131 appearances for Kilmarnock](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/362562).

He was [given his debut in May 2016](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36294466) at the age of 18 and, as reported by [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36471945), he was given a new contract by Kilmarnock after just three senior appearances.

He made [more than 30 Premiership appearances in each of the last three seasons](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/362562) prior to joining Celtic, although he has [yet to appear for the Hoops](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdaten/spieler/362562) in the [three matches they have played since he came to the club on September 2nd](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371).

While Hutton correctly alluded to Taylor’s experience in the Scottish top flight, his assertion that the 21-year-old will “[slot into the Celtic team with ease](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hell-slot-into-celtic-team-with-ease-exclusive-hutton-raves-about-youngster-yet-to-debut/)” has not yet looked like materialising.

He was [not in the Hoops’ squad for their recent games against Hamilton and Rennes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdaten/spieler/362562) and, while he [did make the matchday 18 for the weekend win over former club Kilmarnock](https://www.skysports.com/football/celtic-vs-kilmarnock/teams/411250), he still had to be [content with a place on the bench as Boli Bolingoli retained his left-back slot](https://www.skysports.com/football/celtic-vs-kilmarnock/teams/411250).

That was despite the [Belgian defender](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boli-bolingoli/profil/spieler/168156) incurring a groin injury in the Europa League trip to Rennes less than 72 hours’ previously, as reported by the [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/greg-taylor-set-celtic-debut-20130250).

If Lennon didn’t pick Taylor to come in against Kilmarnock over a defender who had [gone off injured only a matter of days beforehand](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/greg-taylor-set-celtic-debut-20130250), it suggests that the 21-year-old could have a fight on his hands to displace Bolingoli as Celtic’s [first choice left-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/leistungsdaten/verein/371). Therefore, the jury is out on Hutton’s claim that Taylor will easily slot into the Hoops’ starting line-up.

***Celtic fans, do you agree with Hutton’s belief that Taylor will slot into the team with ease and replace Bolingoli as Lennon’s go-to left-back? Give us your views in the comments section below!***