At this time last year, Brendan Rodgers had three left-backs to choose from in Greg Taylor, Alexandro Bernabei and Alex Valle. That group has now completely moved on. Taylor left for PAOK this summer on a free, with Valle and Bernabei also heading out the door.
Kieran Tierney has come back to fill the gap, returning to Celtic after his Arsenal contract ended in June. The 28-year-old is now the clear first choice in that position and brings proven quality and experience.
Many expected Rodgers to go back into the market to add another left-back. But he might not need to. Hayato Inamura, who arrived from Albirex Niigata after making his pro debut just last year, was signed as a centre-back.
Rodgers has been using him at left-back during pre-season, and his strong displays in that role have caught people off guard, including his own manager.
Hugh Keevins believes Inamura’s pre-season form has changed Brendan Rodgers’ view on what the defender can offer.
He said: (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard), “Inamura is a very, very interesting one, for me.
“We understand that the fee was in the region of £250k, which is loose change for Celtic.
“But I think he has taken Brendan Rodgers by surprise. He (Rodgers) wasn’t far off it (of being dismissive of Inamura when he first joined).
“Like Russell Martin, Brendan can only go off on what he sees, and clearly, Inamura has taken him by surprise. I would be surprised if Celtic put him out on loan, because he may just be a diamond you have unearthed.
”Inamura hasn’t just been used at left-back to make up the numbers. He’s stepped into the role with confidence and looked comfortable, even though it’s not his natural position. His performances so far suggest he’s worth keeping around.
Tierney remains the first-choice when available, but Inamura has shown he can cover the role well. His ability to play more than one position could come in handy over the course of a long season.
Celtic didn’t spend much to bring him in, but the early signs are promising. If he keeps progressing, Inamura could turn out to be a clever bit of business.
Right now, there’s no sign of another left-back coming in, so the 23-year-old could well stay put and be part of the first-team picture.
