'Pinning the tail on the donkey' - Chris Sutton outlines ongoing 'area of concern' for Celtic

Chris Sutton has argued that Celtic’s current goalkeeping situation is an “area of concern” for manager Neil Lennon.
Neil Lennon, Manager of Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Neil Lennon, Manager of Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Neil Lennon, Manager of Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Hoops spent £4.5 million to bring Vasilios Barkas to Parkhead from AEK Athens last summer in an effort to replace Southampton loanee Fraser Forster, but the 26-year-old has struggled to produce his best form in Glasgow.

Neither he nor understudy Scott Bain have been able to lay a solid claim on the number one jersey this term, with Lennon alternating between the two for large spells of the campaign.

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Bain started his sixth consecutive Scottish Premiership game against St Johnstone on Sunday evening, but reflecting on the 2-1 win, Sutton suggested that the 29-year-old is not up to the level required by the Bhoys.

Speaking on the Record Celtic Podcast, he said: “[Bain is] Not good enough.

"That's an area where Celtic clearly, clearly need to hold their hands up and say they’ve got Barkas wrong.

"It’s been pinning the tail on the donkey for Neil Lennon in terms of goalkeeping selection.

"There’s been uncertainty all season.

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"We talk about it every season. Champions League qualifiers come round, Celtic are fortunate that if they finish in second place they’ll be in a Champions League qualifier, and they need to be ready.

"That [the goalkeeping situation] is clearly an area of concern.”

Celtic have kept nine clean sheets so far this season, nine of which have come with Barkas between the sticks, and the other three with Bain in the starting XI.

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