Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers accepted that Greg Taylor is likely to move this summer after the left-back again missed out on game time in a 3-0 win over Hearts.
Taylor has played second fiddle to Jeffrey Schlupp in recent weeks and has not featured since being taken off at half-time in a defeat by Hibernian on February 22.
The 27-year-old has played more than 200 times for Celtic but, with Kieran Tierney secured on a pre-contract, Taylor looks set to end a near six-year stay at Parkhead when his contract expires.
Rodgers said: “I’ve been in this position so many times and I can read situations. It’s probably more likely now that Greg will move on than stay, which is a big shame for me because I love him as a person. And I love his game because it’s suited to how we work.
“It’s not financial but I respect his position because he wants to feel he’ll play every week.
“Whoever is in next year with Kieran will still play a lot of games but my feeling is that Greg may well move on.
“I know between now and the end of the season he’ll give his all. Greg has had a few years in the position and has been superb. He’ll also get more games this season.”
Schlupp again impressed against Hearts, having a hand in the opening goal with a first-time forward pass that allowed Callum McGregor to drive on and play in Daizen Maeda.
The on-loan Crystal Palace player appears open to an extended stay but neither he nor Rodgers is making any firm commitments with Taylor’s future still not confirmed.
“Listen, that’s something between now and the end of the season we’ll look at,” Rodgers said. “But I don’t want to commit too early! He’s a great boy. I knew what I was getting, he’s a good type. More than a good guy, he can perform and there’s more to come from him.
“Obviously we know we’ve got Kieran coming in the summer who is high level. We know we’ll need to have someone else if Greg moves on.”
Maeda took his tally for the season to 30 with a first-half double either side of heading against the post before Jota netted the rebound.
“It’s not bad for someone who isn’t supposedly a goalscorer,” Rodgers said.
“I think what everyone is seeing now is his actual finishing quality. There is also a variety in his finishing. He’s getting in to score his one-v-ones with left foot, right foot and headers. He’s got a real good repertoire of finishes.”
Hearts started with three forwards and had plenty of first-half territory, possession and several chances.
However James Wilson missed a sitter at 2-0 and Hearts were sliced open with a series of sharp forward passes for both of Maeda’s goals.
Head coach Neil Critchley admitted he went for “damage limitation” by taking off Wilson for defensive midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof at the break, but stood by his first-half tactics.
“We know the way that we approach the game is a risk,” he said. “It’s high risk, high reward.
“But I don’t really ever want us to be the team what we were in the second half. Giving them half of the pitch, I don’t enjoy that.
“I’d much rather see us go for the game and if sometimes you live by the sword, die by the sword, so be it.
“I don’t think Hearts and who we are as a football club has ever been built on surrendering half the pitch and sitting behind the ball and hoping that we get a breakaway or a set-piece to win the game. So I’ve got no complaints with how the players played.”
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