Chris Sutton believes that Brendan Rodgers must find another central midfielder to play alongside Scott Brown if Celtic are to meet his Champions League ambitions.
The Celtic skipper has been in outstanding form this season alongside various partners ranging from Callum McGregor to Nir Bitton and Stuart Armstrong.
Against Borussia Monchengladbach Armstrong was picked ahead of Bitton but not unexpectedly struggled at times in his first Champions League start.
James McCarthy was linked with a summer move to Celtic with Sutton believing that Rodgers must make a signing of that quality to take Celtic to the next level.
“Brendan has spoken this week about making the last 16 of the Champions League on a regular basis,” Sutton recalled in the Daily Record. “At the moment they are still two or three players short of getting that third spot in the group to get to the Europa League knockout stage.
“The recruitment so far has been impressive. Scott Sinclair has been a class act and Moussa Dembele is looking like the signing of the season. He was picked up for a snip and is now one of the most talked-about strikers in Europe.
“Keeping hold of him will be vital, as will who Brendan brings in. I still believe that central midfield role alongside Scott Brown is a key area. I’ve been impressed with Stuart Armstrong of late but I just think we’re looking at another level when it comes to Europe.
“I also like Tom Rogic, he’s a classy player with a big future but at some point the fitness issue is going to have to be addressed.
“I don’t know how to solve it. Rogic is only 23, he should be in his pomp. I know he’s had serious injury problems over the years but at his age and at this stage he should be capable of playing 90 minutes.
“There has to be a solution. Playing games will help long term and I’m sure he will know it himself.
He doesn’t strike me as the kind of player who is out hitting the town and burning the candle at both ends but he really has to get up to speed because he can have a major influence at Celtic – if he can stay on the pitch for the duration of the game.
“Rogic and the rest are still a work in progress but you get the sense Rodgers can keep exceeding expectations.”
Rogers is already planning for the January transfer window and admitted that he had missed out on bringing in a creative midfielder at the end of the summer window.
Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is expected to be available in January but it’s expected that Rodgers will be looking for a longer term solution.
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