Murdo MacLeod has called on Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager, to take midfielder Stefan Johansen out of his team for the player’s own good following a slow start to his season.
The Norwegian claimed the PFA and Celtic’s Player of the Year award last season on the back of an impressive year at the heart of the Parkhead midfield. During that campaign, the 24-year-old netted 13 goals across all competitions and was a strong force in the club’s march to another domestic title and into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
This term has been a different story, however. Johansen has struggled to rekindle the form that catapulted him into the spotlight during his fellow countryman’s first campaign in charge at Celtic. Despite that dip, he has still be used frequently by Deila, even though he has only scored once since August 1 – a strike that came last month against Raith Rovers in the League Cup.
And ahead of tonight’s quarter-final of the same competition away to Hearts, MacLeod believes a rest would be the best thing for all concerned to allow Johansen to get back to his best.
When asked if the midfielder needs some time out of the starting XI, the former Celtic midfielder said: “Without a doubt. And I wouldn’t call it dropped. I would call it rested. It’s not as if you are saying one of the major players is being left out of the side. Things are not going well for him and he needs a break. Every player needs a break at some point.
“Would I take him out right now? The biggest problem is that Celtic have big games coming up against Molde and Aberdeen. But Rogic has looked good so maybe try him or Armstrong.”
MacLeod added: “It’s not been about Johansen this season. It’s been about the team. Griffiths and Commons are the men Celtic are turning to for goals and Johansen has not been in the equation. He’s not been instrumental in victories for Celtic so I think they could leave him out.
“But it’s difficult for the manager who always puts him in the team and these are big games coming up. But the team comes first over any individual and if Johansen is not playing well that can affect the players around him. And maybe you can get a bigger reaction from a fresh player coming in and maybe get a bit of a buzz about the place.”
Murdo was promoting a new Ladbrokes ’Track Your Acca’ app which allows punters to track their bets and cash out on the go - for full details log on to thegrid.ladbrokes.com"
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