Celtic winger Scott Sinclair must have fallen out with manager Neil Lennon, and that is why he is not playing for the Hoops, according to Noel Whelan.
The 30-year-old has only featured for 56 minutes for the Bhoys so far this season, despite extending his contract with the club at the end of last season.
And BBC Yorkshire pundit Whelan is of the opinion that his absence this term must be the consequence of a behind-the-scenes disagreement.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “It’s a baffling situation.
“There’s been a fall-out at the training ground, or something’s happened at the training ground. That’s the only explanation, really, that I can think of.
“Yes, Celtic have started the season very well, but Scott Sinclair is easily good enough to get in their squad and, in the team as well, when he’s fit and firing.
“Just look at his record under Brendan Rodgers. He was superb and won the Scottish player of the year.
“There’s obviously something happened behind the scenes with Lennon. Otherwise, he would be in the team. Yes, Celtic have some really good players, but Sinclair is a proven matchwinner at that level.”
Is Whelan right?
The truth is that only somebody behind the scenes could confirm or deny whether Lennon and Sinclair have had a falling out, but you have to acknowledge that it is strange for Sinclair to be omitted from the manager’s plans entirely.
The 30-year-old hit 17 goals in 55 appearances last term, at a rate of one goal every 205 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.
For context, James Forrest, who hit 18 in 56 and is very much a part of Lennon’s plans, only found the net once every 251 minutes last term, as per Transfermarkt.
When you see those stats side by side, it makes very little sense that Sinclair would be shunned, especially to the extent that he has.
Even more baffling, however, are Lennon’s own comments on the matter.
When Sinclair signed his extension back in May, Lennon said, as quoted by the BBC: “He has been a good player since he walked in the door. It’s a big boost for the squad.”
“He has made a big contribution in the goals column and that football intelligence and experience is always important to have around.”
That’s a ringing endorsement from the manager himself, so for Sinclair to be left out in the cold as he has been this season, you can only assume that something substantial has changed out of the blue.
If that is the case, then maybe Whelan is right after all.