Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE TAYL OF THE TAPE Greg has timed his charge to perfection & is now primed for heavyweight clash at Ibrox next Sunday HE’S SCOT A CHANCE
GREG TAYLOR is proof that timing is everything in football – in more ways than one.
The former Kilmarnock defender waited patiently for his chance under Neil Lennon.
But just as the season is reaching the business end, he has made the left wing-back position in the Celtic manager’s 3-5-2 formation his own.
A key feature of his game has been the intelligence he displays in picking the right moment to bomb up the flank to join in the attack.
Now the 22-year-old is gearing up for some of the biggest matches of his career as he homes in on his first league winners’ medal, a Scottish Cup semi-final and a place in the Scotland set-up for the upcoming Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel.
Before all that, of course, is another massive match in the shape of the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on Sunday.
And although his side have an almost unassailable lead at top of the Premiership, Taylor can’t wait for his first taste of the famous fixture.
“You can’t afford to take your foot off the pedal at a club this size,” he said. “You have to put on a performance every week.
“We beat St Mirren on Saturday and now we want to get a positive result at Rangers.
“It doesn’t matter what the lead is. It’s the next game and that means it’s the most important.
“We are aware there is added impetus because of the size of the fixture but that’s a challenge we are all looking forward to.
“It’s another big game for us hopefully to go and get a result in.
“I haven’t played for Celtic against Rangers yet. I managed to pick a few points up against Rangers with Kilmarnock but that means nothing now.
“I signed the day after the first derby this season and I was in the stand in December.
“It’s a massive game and one I am looking forward to.”
While Rangers will have a difficult Europa League last-16 clash with Bayer Leverkusen to play on Thursday before they can turn their attention to the Old Firm match, Celtic have a free week to prepare.
“We’d rather be playing in every competition but it has been a long time since we had a free midweek,” Taylor said. “It has been constant since the start of the season, with games every few days.
“So this is a chance to get a rest and then build into Sunday’s game.”
Taylor, who will be named a week tomorrow in Steve Clarke’s squad for the Euro 2020 play-off semifinal against Israel, is convinced his club-mate will be with him. The defender said: “If Griff keeps doing what he’s doing I’m sure he will be right back in Scotland contention. He’s enjoying his football and is a really good option for the national team. “Griff is scoring goals for Celtic so the national manager will be pleased. “He can create goals and score goals so it’s brilliant to have him playing like that.”