As the Glasgow derby approaches, former Celtic player and current pundit Chris Sutton has weighed in on the hotly debated potential returns of Reo Hatate and Liel Abada.

Known for his forthright opinions, Sutton made his stance clear in response to a fan account’s query about whether Hatate or Abada should start the game following their long absences due to injury. His succinct reply on X, “no,” reflects his belief that thrusting the players back into such a high-intensity match could be premature.

Sutton, who will be part of the Sky Sports broadcast team at Celtic Park on Saturday, has echoed the sentiments of many Celtic fans who think the significance of managing player fitness and match readiness, particularly in a game as demanding and emotionally charged as the derby against Rangers is vital.

Adding to the complexity of the team’s situation is the recent revelation that star defender Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss the derby due to injury. Sutton described the absence of Carter-Vickers, who he calls “the best defender in the league by a stretch,” as an “enormous blow for Celtic.” His comments underscore the defensive void that will need to be filled by Stephen Welsh.

As the game, set to kick off at 12:30 pm on Saturday, draws near, the debate over Hatate and Abada’s participation adds another layer of intrigue to the already intense situation.

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