Oliver Burke got “found out” as a centre-forward in Celtic’s Europa League defeat to Valencia on Thursday night, according to Chris Sutton.
The January loan signing from West Brom has been used as a striker since his arrival but former Hoops front man Sutton was unimpressed by his performance in the 2-0 last-32 first leg defeat at Parkhead.
“Celtic are very predictable. They have only one way of playing, and that’s out from the back. They have a big centre-forward in Burke, and didn’t utilise him,” Sutton told BT Sport’s live coverage in the aftermath of the clash, as quoted by their Twitter account.
“It’s very difficult for Burke. They are trying to mould him into a centre-forward. It’s okay domestically, they get away with it. At this level, you get found out. They didn’t have that focal point. He didn’t know how to move at times, with the greatest of respect to him.
“You need a proper centre-forward. Do they have one? I don’t think so. It’s a massive problem. Celtic don’t have a recognised number nine. That isn’t good enough for a club of this size.”
"This is Celtic, in a knockout stage European competition, and they don't have a recognised number nine…"
"That is not good enough!"@chris_sutton73 believes Celtic were found out against a "streetwise" Valencia side in the #EuropaLeague tonight. pic.twitter.com/TpVKp6pgtU
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 14, 2019
OPINION
As ever, straight-talking Sutton hit the nail on the head perfectly in the wake of the defeat that leaves Celtic’s European hopes once again hanging by a thread. Brendan Rodgers’ side may be cleaning up domestically once again with a string of convincing wins since the winter break. But, when the disco lights come on at Paradise on Thursday nights, the giants of the Scottish game just shrink. How Celtic missed the finesse and eye for goal of 2018 summer sale Moussa Dembele against Valencia. Leigh Griffiths, too, would have been a far better spearhead than Burke, who was joined up front by Odsonne Edouard after 59 minutes of the match. Burke has scored three goals in seven matches for Celtic and his blistering pace and power have proved too much for some opponents in recent months. But strikers at elite level need to pull centre-backs out of position through their movement and great runs. Burke barely laid a glove on the La Liga club’s back four, and was shown up for what he is; a promising winger who is not and never will be a top-class centre-forward.