CHRIS SUTTON is backing misfiring John Guidetti to come good at Celtic.
And the former Hoops striker is urging Ronny Deila to step up the efforts to get the Swede to pledge his future to the club when his loan period expires at the end of the season.
Guidetti rattled in 11 goals in a sparkling 16-game run at the start of his temporary move from Manchester City.
However, the 22-year-old frontman hasn’t netted since scoring a penalty-kick in the 4-0 Scottish Cup win over Hearts in November.
Sutton said: “I know he hasn’t scored for a number of games, but you’ve got him, Stefan Scepovic and Leigh Griffiths all vying for one place.
“It’s a bit unforgiving when you’re left out then come in and are expected to score. That’s not easy. “In fairness to Griffiths, he’s looking exceptionally sharp and it would be an enormous surprise if he didn’t start against Inter Milan on Thursday night.
“It’s a bit unforgiving when you’re left out then come in and are expected to score. That’s not easy. “In fairness to Griffiths, he’s looking exceptionally sharp and it would be an enormous surprise if he didn’t start against Inter Milan on Thursday night.
“With Guidetti, though, he has proved he can score goals. I just think he needs a run in the team.”
Sutton, Martin O’Neill’s first signing for the club when he arrived from Chelsea in a £6million deal in June 2000, thinks Guidetti, who is a free agent in the summer, has a future at Parkhead.
He continued: “I don’t think we should dismiss Guidetti at all.
“The clamour to sign him does seem to have stalled, but I still think Celtic should see how they get on until the end of the season with him.
“I certainly wouldn’t rule out signing him. He’s shown he can do it over a period.
“He just needs to get back into the team – and get a couple of goals. You don’t become a bad player overnight.”
Sutton is looking forward to the Europa League clash against the Italian giants.
He said: “In my day, the likes of goalkeeper David Marshall came in against Barcelona at the Nou Camp and made a name for himself.
“Shaun Maloney did it, too. As did Liam Millar, so it’s a chance for others to step up and show what they can do in Europe.”
Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven, the transfer deadline arrivals from Dundee United, are standing by to make their European debuts.
Sutton added: “If Ronny Deila feels they are good enough, he’ll put them in. I’m not convinced Ronny knows who is best off the right-hand side.
“Mackay-Steven likes to play off there and come in on his left foot. I know Ronny likes to have someone do that, albeit James Forrest has played there at times, too.
“So I think Mackay-Steven will stand a chance of playing against Inter.
“If Commons isn’t fit, I suspect Stefan Johansen will do the Commons role, which he is used to, anyway.
“He’s done reasonably well, whichever position he has been asked to play.”
