Neil Lennon handed Scott Sinclair a rare outing against Partick Thistle on Wednesday, and he capitalised by scoring the final goal of the 5-0 drubbing.
Chris Sutton has now claimed that although Lennon does not have a problem with Sinclair, the player has to show he still has what it takes.
The 30-year-old was named the PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year and the SFWA Footballer of the Year in his debut season in 2016/17, after scoring 25 goals in all competitions.
Another 18 goals the following season and 17 in the most recent campaign has seen his name written into Celtic history books, but thats not enough to guarantee minutes this time out.
Sutton told the Daily Record: “To be honest, it would probably have been best for both parties if he’d left in the summer.
“Let’s face it. He’s down to fourth choice at Celtic behind Mohamed Elyounoussi, Mikey Johnston and Lewis Morgan.
“It’s a heck of a fall for a player who was Scotland’s Player of the Year three seasons ago.
“For whatever reason he’s drifted. Players lose confidence, it happens to most at times, but the only way to recapture it is by playing your way back in training and in matches.”
Celtic take on Hibernian later today with Sinclair likely to be limited to a role on the bench, as Lennon looks to continue the perfect record the Hoops boast in the Premiership.
Former Southampton winger Elyounoussi has impressed since joining on loan in the summer, with the Northern Irish boss keen to mould Johnston into a key cog in first-team proceedings.
Sutton continued: “Neil Lennon is not refusing to select Sinclair because he has anything against him.
“It’s because he sees the player day in, day out in training and he believes there are others who are capable of doing more for him.
“The manager can’t pick someone because they were Player of the Year two or three years ago.
“Bosses deal with the here and now and there’s obviously been something missing.
“There’s too much at stake in Europe and domestically and Lennon is not going to cut his nose off to spite his face.
“He’s had reservations but it doesn’t mean Sinclair is finished at Celtic.”
