Chris Sutton claims Celtic player 'wouldn't start for any team in Scottish top flight'

Nancy bounced back from the worst start of any new Celtic manager in history as victories over Aberdeen and Livingston followed four consecutive defeats to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren and Dundee United.

Sutton, who played for Celtic between 2000 and 2006 but now works as a Scottish football pundit, questions whether certain players are capable of playing in Nancy's 3-4-3 system, singling out one starter who he reckons would struggle to get a game in any other Scottish Premiership team.

Speaking on The Warm Up by William Hill, Sutton said: "I think there are players who are starting and who have started regularly under Wilfried Nancy who shouldn't be starting, who aren't good enough to start.

"I've been consistent with this, why January is a big month. Anthony Ralston in really struggling in that right side of the defence. Johnny Kenny, I don't think would get a starting berth in virtually any team in the top flight. I just don't think he's good enough."

Nancy has persevered with his 3-4-3 system which has produced some exciting attacking football but Celtic have looked vulnerable in defence, particularly from set pieces.

"To come in and implement a style - he's entitled to do that - but I still think that Celtic are a work in progress in the middle of the season. That's a problem," Sutton added.

"With every week that passes I can see Celtic absolutely smashing some teams, and on the flipside of that I can see Celtic losing a fair few games under Wilfried Nancy as well, unless things change in January.

"He was talking during the week about observing the squad, and 'we'll see what happens in January'. I would like him to be more forthcoming and say, 'this is what we need'.

"You're asking players to play roles who are not good enough to play those roles. Ralston would be one, and Yang, for all he gives the team going forward, defensively I'm not so sure he has that defensive instinct.

"I think it's fascinating how Wilfried Nancy sees it. You can't tell me that every time a team gets a long throw or a corner or a free-kick against Celtic, you don't fancy them to score. It will come back and bite Celtic on the backside. Their lack of physicality from set plays is a problem. Auston Trusty is good on one v one situations, backs himself because he’s quick, but we saw him last year getting beat up.

"And when you’ve got goalkeepers who don’t want to come off their line and catch the ball, it’s a massive problem.

"You can see what Wilfried Nancy is trying to do in the final third. Some of the football in patches has been really exciting. I think there has been progress in some of the patterns, especially down that left hand side.

"I don't know if Daizen Maeda is playing for a move away in January. Celtic can't sell him. They absolutely can't but I’ll probably be proved wrong on that. He looks back to his physical best. He looks sharp. [Benjamin] Nygren has shown flashes.

"But I'm not getting carried away by Celtic beating 10-man Aberdeen and Livingston who are rock bottom."