Greg will be a huge success at the Hoops

Dom Thomas is backing his old Kilmarnock team-mate Greg Taylor to be a success at Celtic – he just hopes he doesn’t make a dream start at his expense today.

Signed for £2.2 million from the Rugby Park club on deadline day, Taylor has been eased into life at his new club.

He has watched from the sidelines as Boli Bolingoli, a £3-million buy from Rapid Vienna earlier in the window, has put early jitters behind him to prove himself a confident performer at left-back.

For some making the step up to a more high-profile club, that would be daunting.

History is littered with examples of players who excelled at teams outside Celtic and Rangers, failing to replicate their performances at the Old Firm.

Thomas, who could be directly up against Taylor should Celtic manager Neil Lennon take the obvious-looking opportunity, to introduce against him against players he is very familiar with.

“Greg is a good boy with a good family behind him. I really don’t see it being a problem for him to go and play for Celtic,” said Thomas.

“He is someone who takes things in his stride.

“You saw the way he came from the Kilmarnock youths into the first team. We were in the play-offs against Falkirk to stay up and he just slotted straight in. “Don’t forget either, at just 21-years-old he was playing for Scotland. That tells you he will handle anything put in front of him. He is very level-headed.”

Just as importantly, Thomas argues, he has the required skill level to meet the demands of a team chasing nine-ina-row on the domestic front and victory in Europe. “Technically, Greg is very good on the ball and confident,” he said.

“He is not the tallest but he will give you 100% at all times. “A lot of teams