As good as it gets at centre half

Last week I wrote that Celtic were lucky their central defensive crisis happened during the transfer window.  They had time to make their move, although the requirement could not have been easy to fit.

A player was needed who could play in the Champions League alongside a young Swedish defender who is new to the club.  That sets the bar quite high, but the player would also know that with two new central defenders signed this window, Brendan Rodgers will be motivated to develop them whenever possible.  Game time may tail off when Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki return to fitness.

I would walk past Nat Phillips without recognising him on Buchannan St this afternoon, but on paper, he is about as good as we could hope for.  Interestingly, he was the player Bournemouth signed as replacement for Carter-Vickers when his loan period there ended two years ago.

I hope he spends much of today and tomorrow in the company of Gustaf Lagerbielke.  They have lots to talk about before Sunday.

Welcome to Celtic, Nat.  Own it, while you’re here!

More blogging to come today.