The Celtic Star
·13 April 2025
A Day in Paradise that the Taylor family will never forget

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·13 April 2025
Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates with team mates after scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
Greg Taylor put in a solid display yesterday in his sixty minutes on the pitch in the 5-1 thumping of Kilmarnock, so much so that he was named player of the match.
Greg Taylor’s MOTM award as per his post on Instagram.
Although personally I thought Reo Hatate was perhaps more worthy of that accolade, however Greg put in an excellent, whole hearted performance when it would be so much easier for him to down tools as his time at the club looks very likely to be coming to an end.
Greg however is made of strong stuff as he’s showed in his six year spell at the club. He might not have the greatest of ability, but he’s never let the club down when it comes to giving his all on the field.
Jeffrey Schlupp was a shrewd signing by Brendan Rodgers and everyone myself included backed him as the man to be in possession of the left back spot for the remainder of the campaign.
Jeffrey Schlupp celebrates. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Schlupp’s form however has waned in recent weeks and that was evident with Brendan’s decision to start Greg yesterday. Greg would more than justify that decision as he put in a shift that proves he should be the number one choice at left back until the end of the campaign, despite the uncertainty over his future at the club.
Brendan Rodgers, speaking on Sky Sports after the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock, confirmed that he has NOT given up hope of retaining Taylor’s services beyond the end of this season.
“I’ll always fight to the very end for a player. Greg’s earned the right to make the decision he wants. “You see in the performance today how important someone in that role is, he plays like a midfield player for us. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers steps off the Celtic team bus at Celtic Park. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, 12 April 2025. IMAGO Photo Stuart Wallace, Shutterstock
Previously the Celtic manager had this to say about the left-back changes at the club next season with Kieran Tierney scheduled for a summer return to Paradise after signing a pre-contract with the club in January.
“I do think that is an issue. There’s no doubt about that. He’s been a starter here for virtually six years. He’s always had a challenge that he’s overcome from other players coming in, which is a great testament to him and his mentality and his professionalism.
Kieran Tierney of Arsenal celebrates with team mates Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice after scoring a goal that is later disallowed due to an offside offence during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brentford FC at Emirates Stadium on April 12, 2025. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
“He knows Kieran well and he knows his qualities and his abilities but there still can be room for two of them here.”
Brendan later confirmed that the issue with Greg Taylor stalling on signing a new Celtic deal is not financial, so it comes down to game-time and apparently not willing to give up his first pick left-back status to Tierney. The closer we get to the end of the season, the more the reality of leaving Celtic will perhaps impact on Greg.
The Celtic support certainly would like him to stay.
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