One can say the turnaround is finally complete now as Celtic have sealed the deal for ex-Rangers trialist Andrew Gutman according to the Scottish Sun. The reports add that the player would move to Glasgow once he gets a work permit.
This should come as a surprise to everyone as it was Rangers who brought this talented left back on trial to Glasgow and if reports from the Daily Record are to be believed, then the Gers even offered a contract to him. Gerrard himself had confirmed that Gutman was on trial with the Bears.
Gutman recently won the Hermann Trophy which is given to the best footballer in the American college soccer circuit. The fullback also had offers (The Athletic) from various American clubs to consider, but it seems like he is going to make a switch to Park Head now.
It remains to be seen whether Gutman would be able to cope up with the challenges of the Scottish Premiership as he does not have any experience of playing football at the top level. However, one thing that is clear is the 22-year-old has an abundance of talent as he managed to impress both Rangers and Celtic.
The Celtic fans shouldn’t expect miracles from him straightaway and he might need some time to get going. It is likely that he is going to be used as a backup option to Kieran Tierney who has been struggling with injuries of late. In his absence, Emilio Izaguirre has been dismal, and his performance doesn’t exude much confidence in the fans or the manager.
As a result, Rodgers had to use his best ball playing midfielder Callum McGregor as a left back in the Old Firm derby as Tierney wasn’t 100 per cent fit. That selection was highly criticised as McGregor wasn’t able to get on the ball in areas where he could have influenced the play. However, Rodgers’ hand was also tied as he didn’t trust either Jonny Hayes or Izaguirre to fill in as left back in such a big clash.
Therefore there is a definite need of a fullback and the Hoops would hope that Gutman would come good. In a long season and especially when it a club like Celtic which challenges for every trophy, having a good squad depth is as important as having a strong first eleven. The signing of Gutman is a step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen how the American would cope up in this new league.
