Ex-Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is expecting manager Neil Lennon to drop Greg Taylor in favour of new signing Diego Laxalt for the game against Rangers on Saturday.
The Uruguayan international has yet to make his debut for the Hoops but McAvennie feels the player has the experience of playing in Milan derbies that will help him if he starts this weekend:
“I think the new boy Laxalt will start. I think he will come straight in for Greg Taylor because you do not get to Inter and AC Milan if you are not an exceptional player. The experience of playing in that derby will stand him in good stead, you can imagine when the San Siro is full. His pedigree is there so I would put him straight in and I think he will do well. It would be a big call to bring him in like that, so let’s see if Lennon does decide to shake his team up.”
Of course, with no crowd, it won’t be as intense a derby as we have come to expect in recent years so picking Laxalt won’t be such a big call as it might have been. Even so, it must be pointed out that the wingback has not played a single minute of competitive football this campaign.
The 27-year-old has been an unused substitute in six matches for AC Milan; three in the league and another three in the Europa League. With that being the case, Lennon may well opt against starting him in such a big match.
