'Rodgers protecting model professional Taylor'

One week into the new year, and the transfer window, and already it's one of the most-talked about deals of recent times.

Of course, it's the daily update of the Kieran Tierney potential return to Celtic tale, and what that could mean for current left-back, Greg Taylor.

It's a story which already appears to be scunnering manager Brendan Rodgers, who was quick to share his unhappiness about some Celtic fans chanting the name of the current Arsenal player during Sunday's win over St Mirren while Taylor was down receiving treatment.

Michael Grant, the Scottish football correspondent for The Times, found the outburst "interesting" but believes Rodgers was "protecting" his player.

"Rodgers' comments seemed to come out of nowhere," Grant said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"It wasn't the line of questioning, it wasn't a, 'are you unhappy with the chanting?' it was very much Rodgers getting it off his chest that he was unhappy.

"I think it just seemed to really irritate him that the chant for Tierney started when Taylor was down injured - Rodgers was looking at it from a protection of his player perspective.

"Taylor has been a great servant to Celtic, a model professional. I think it was on a human level, 'this isnae fair'."

A superb servant Taylor does continue to be. He has provided the joint most assists (four) of any defender in the league this season and has played 1,217 minutes - the eighth most in the Celtic squad - despite the addition of on-loan Barcelona left-back Alex Valle.

Starting 14 of Celtic's 20 games, Taylor has made over 1000 passes, with an accuracy rate of 87%, and his attacking impact is illustrated by 39 touches in the opposition box, which is the sixth highest total of any Premiership defender.

Listen and subscribe to daily episodes of the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds