---
title: "Celtic: Alan Hutton slams James McCarthy"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-alan-hutton-slams-james-mccarthy/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-03-17T17:40:12Z"
modified: "2022-03-17T17:40:12Z"
---

# Celtic: Alan Hutton slams James McCarthy

**Pundit Alan Hutton has hit out at Celtic midfielder James McCarthy for his first season as a Hoops player, [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic-news-hutton-slams-2021-signing-after-what-he-spotted-from-reo-hatate/) report.**

### The Lowdown: McCarthy’s struggles

McCarthy was one of 12 signings made by Ange Postecoglou during the summer, penning a [four-year deal](https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/Double-signing-delight-as-Joe-Hart-and-James-McCarthy-join-Celtic/) at Parkhead. The Irishman arrived on a free transfer and is on [£14,000-a-week](https://salarysport.com/football/player/james-mccarthy/) in Glasgow, making a four-year contract worth £2.9m.

[Celtic updates!!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-23/)

Unfortunately, the 31-year-old hasn’t made a major impact in his first season, making just [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/leistungsdaten/spieler/45333) league starts. He has been the club’s worst-rated Premiership performer of players to have made two or more starts, averaging a match-rating of 6.44/10. \[[WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic)\]

### The Latest: Hutton’s comments

Hutton, who contributes for [BBC Radio 5 Live](https://icdb.tv/stats/3725/Alan-Hutton), was talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic-news-hutton-slams-2021-signing-after-what-he-spotted-from-reo-hatate/) regarding the Irishman.

He questioned the midfielder, comparing him to teammates Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate.

> “He obviously came in with a wealth of experience.
>
> “But he’s another player that has struggled to stay fit.
>
> “I think if you look at the options right now and how Ange Postecoglou plays the game, it’s very high intensity and high energy. Is he able to do that?
>
> “You look at the ground Hatate covers, even McGregor. They’re workhorses. They get up and down the pitch, they make things happen and that question mark is over James McCarthy.
>
> “Is he capable of doing that for 90 minutes? At the moment, I’m not so sure.
>
> “I think it’s up to him to go and prove that he can play in this team. That he can get to the levels needed to play that high energy football.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”350784″\]

### The Verdict: Not good

Celtic may well be regretting their decision to hand McCarthy a deal until 2025 based on his performances this season which have totalled just [695 minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/leistungsdaten/spieler/45333).

He has struggled to adapt to Postecoglou’s high-intensity style, despite his wealth of Premier League experience prior to moving to Scotland.

McCarthy is on a good salary and hasn’t made the impact many were hoping, so, on that basis, the Hoops may even try to offload the player before his deal expires in 2025.

***In other news: [Sky Sports man drops fresh Celtic takeover claim regarding £150m man.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-kieran-maguire-makes-conor-mcgregor-claim/)***