Yuki Kobayashi has been tipped as a better option for Celtic than 'awkward' Carl Starfelt.
That's the verdict of Hoops hero Frank McAvennie who is a fan of the left-sided centre-back that Ange Postecoglou brought to the club during the January transfer window.
The central defender came in to the club as Mortiz Jenz headed for the exit door. He's started just three games so far for the Scottish champions with the big Swede preferred alongside No1 defender Cameron Carter-Vickers in the heart of the Hoops' backline. However, the USA international was left out of the trip to Rugby Park with the surface considered and that handed the winter recruit another chance from the start.
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He landed praise from his boss after the game for handling the physical test and McAvennie reckons being left-sided is a real asset and that makes him better suited to play with Carter-Vickers.
He told Football Insider : “I like [Yuki] Kobayashi.
He is left-sided, he plays great with Carter-Vickers. I think he is a better option than Starfelt.
“He [Starfelt] looks a bit awkward sometimes because he is not a left-sided player.“
Speaking on Sky Sports after the emphatic 4-1 win over Kilmarnock, Postecoglou said: "Outstanding first-half. The boys were brilliant. I thought the football, attitude and intent - it was a big game last week - was outstanding.
"The second half got a bit sloppy. It never got really into any sort of rhythm. A lot of stop, starts. But overall knowing the challenge that was there before us today, great job.
"I mentioned before the game I thought we needed some energy and I thought the guys coming in gave us that. The whole group in general came out with a real intent but they were brilliant.
"Tomoki [Iwata] was excellent in midfield, Yuki [Kobayashi], it is a big physical challenge playing here on that surface, I thought he handled it really well and it was good to get Haksa [Sead Haksabanovic] some minutes. So the boys who came in really did a good job."
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