Former Celtic star Chris Sutton says that he is expecting new Hoops signing Kolo Toure to play a vital role against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Brendan Rodgers, who took charge of the club in the summer, was quick to snap up the Ivorian on a free transfer from Liverpool.




The Northern Irishman felt Toure could plug Celtic’s defence, having worked with him closely at Liverpool; Rodgers signed the centre-back from Manchester City in 2013 when he was Reds manager.

And Sutton, who has been pleased with Toure’s displays for Celtic so far, thinks the 35-year-old’s experience and organising skills could come in handy against the Catalan giants at the Camp Nou.
 


“We have all sat and watched the games over the last couple of seasons and Celtic have been picked off defensively against opposition who aren’t as good as they’re going to play this season”, he was quoted as saying by the Herald Scotland.

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“Brendan Rodgers obviously had to come in and make changes defensively, bringing in Toure with his experience and I still think he has enough pace.

"I think in the Be’er Sheva game he was one player who came out of that with any credit.

“We all know what’s going to happen in the Nou Camp in terms of Barcelona controlling possession; they’re not a team that’s going to load balls in the box from wide areas they are going to try to play through.

“It’s important that they have an organiser at the back and that’s what Toure was brought in for, essentially.”

Sutton went on to add that fellow summer signing Scott Sinclair’s pace could come in handy for the counter-attacking style of play which Celtic will be expected to adopt at the Camp Nou.

“It’s crucial that Celtic stay in the game for as long as possible. It’s an obvious thing to say, but as players that’s what you feel: weather that first 20, 25 minutes and then play your way into the game”, he continued.

“But Celtic do have pace on the counter and that’s something, a dimension, that Scott Sinclair especially has given Celtic.

“It will be interested to see the team selection. I know Brendan said he likes to take a risk but he won’t go 4-4-2.”

Celtic thrashed their arch-rivals Rangers 5-1 at the week to consolidate first place in the Scottish Premiership and ensure they head into their fixture against Barcelona in good heart.